Grace Marie Vappie, 77, was born May 28, 1940 and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was the second of 10 children born to Ernest Vappie and Victoria (Thomatis) Vappie Anderson.

Grace attended school at St. Paul the Apostle School. She was employed with the Orleans Parish School Board. She married James Edward Reffells at an early age. Following the death of her husband, she relocated to Kansas City, Missouri in December 1970 and was employed at Operation Breakthrough Family Service Center taking care of infants. She also worked for the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City- St. Joseph. After retirement, she worked at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Shalom Nursing Home and the Kansas City VA Hospital.

She was a faithful and active member of Risen Christ Catholic Church where she received her New Wine degree and became a Eucharistic Minister and visited the sick and shut-in until they closed. She then became a member of St. Therese Little Flower.

She passed peacefully at home on March 14, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. Grace was preceded in death by her husband James Reffells; her parents Ernest Vappie and Victoria Thomatis Anderson; her step-father Alvin A. Anderson; and her siblings, Phyllis Gillis, Ernest Vappie, Jr., Wilmer Vappie and Bruce Vappie.

Grace memories will be cherished forever by her children, Neptorie Fields (Alonzo), Allison McDonald, Claire Garrett and Darrin Reffells; grandchildren, Alonzo Fields (Mikelle), Brandon Fields, Adam Fields, LaTeesha Jackson (Larry), Jeremy McDonald, David Garrett, Danny Garrett Jr., and Christina Hawkins (Rick); great-grandchildren, Jaylen, Zola, Adam Jr., Dajah, Dimond, Davonni, Malik, Mya, Alisa, and Berick; siblings: brother, David Vappie (Elaine), sisters, Joyce Dalferes (Warren), Victoria Arnold (Jack), Judy Randle (Leonard) and Threquinta Parker; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Services to be held Friday March 23, 2018 at Passantino Bros. Funeral Home, 2117 Independence Blvd, Kansas City, Missouri 64124. Visitation 9:00 am to 11:00 am; Services 11:00 am. Burial at Mount Olivet Cemetery following. Father Stephen Cook will officiate.

Condolences may be offered at www.passantinobros.com