Lucille Caldwell

Lucille Grondahl Caldwell

“Grief never ends…but it changes. It’s a passage, not a place to stay.

Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith…it is the price of love.”

Lucille Caldwell (affectionately “Mimi and Lucy”), age 98, formerly of Millcreek and St. Joseph’s Apartments, passed away peacefully Thursday, June 25, 2015 at Manchester Lodge.

A lifelong resident of Erie, born on July 8, 1916, she was the daughter of the late Fred and Lillian Laskey Grondahl.

Lucille was a 1934 graduate of Strong Vincent High School and then worked for the W.P.A., American Cyanamid, and much later, the Boston Store.

She was a very active member of St. Julia Church, where she was a past president of the Rosary Society. Lucille did publicity for both church and Rosary Society for over 20 years. She also handled publicity for the Erie County Hospital Auxiliary (now Pleasant Ridge) for many years.

As a young woman, Lu was “The Dancing Queen”, winning waltz contests and being a member of the WPA dance troup. She loved dancing on the Warner Theatre stage. This passion stayed with her when later she founded and directed both “The Belles of St. Julia’s” (comedy dance troupe) and the very entertaining “St. Jo’s Gems” (St. Joseph Apartments). She wrote all the shows, directing and performing in them until 2004.

Lucille was an exceptionally loving, kind, and forgiving woman who could always find the good in everyone. She will be forever missed.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Clyde D. Caldwell, in 1993, and a brother, Fred J. Grondahl,, Jr., son-in-law Paul Otto, sisters-in-law Mabel Diehl, Jean Caldwell, Ginny Grondahl, brother- in- law Clifford Caldwell, and many dear cousins.

Survivors include a daughter, Carolie Caldwell Otto of Erie, two granddaughters; Wendy Pardiny and her husband, Ken of Pittsburgh, and Heidi Fette and her husband, John of Erie. Sister in law Betty Goida (Greg) of W. Trenton, NJ, many nieces and nephews and cousins.

Family and friends may call at the Burton Funeral Home, 3801 West 26th Street (at Powell Ave.) on Sunday from 2-4 p.m. and are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Monday at 11 a.m. at St. Julia Church 3750 West Lake Road Erie, PA 16505.

Burial will follow in Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to St. Julia Church 3750 West Lake Road , Erie, PA 16505.