Grace Marie Fordyce, born Maria Grazia Bando, 80, of Harrisonville, MO, gently passed into the Lord's hands Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at the Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City, MO. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 8, 2011 at Cornerstone Community Church in Harrisonville, MO. She will be laid to rest at Swan Lake Memorial Park Cemetery, Grain Valley, MO. The family will receive friends from 9:00-10:00 a.m. Saturday at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Kansas City Hospice House, 12000 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64145.

Grace was born April 30, 1930 in Mt. Pleasant, PA to Sicilian immigrants, Anthony and Ginny (Gatto) Bando, and had seven brothers, Frank, Willie, George, Anthony, Pauly, Archie, Sammy and two sisters, Angie and Mary.

Grace graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School where she was an avid football fan and cheerleader. Her teams were the Chiefs and the Steelers, who she loved cheering on. She was married to William Paul Fordyce on August 16, 1948, who was a lifetime member of the Air Force. Being part of the military life enabled her to travel the world, which she loved doing; but her main job was as an active loving mother of seven, and a full time homemaker

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, William Paul Fordyce and beloved daughter, Diana Marie Fordyce-Kemper. She is survived by five beloved sons, Paul Fordyce of Drexel, MO, Mike Fordyce of Joplin, MO, Jim Fordyce of Harrisonville, MO, Bill Fordyce of Independence, MO and Tom Fordyce of Harrisonville, MO; one beloved daughter, Peggy Mueller of Independence, MO; two beloved brothers, Paul Bando and Archie Bando, both of Mt. Pleasant, PA; 25 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.