Grace Koch

On February 27, 2025, Grace Koch passed away at age 75. 

Grace Elaine Koch, 75, of Galestown, MD, passed away on February 27, 2025, after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer.  Up until the end, Grace’s personality shone through, as she continually showered her family and friends with love and laughter.

Grace was born on August 16, 1949, in Baltimore, MD.  She graduated from Brooklyn Park High School and immediately began her career with Westinghouse/Northrop Grumman, where she spent 35+ years building and assembling radar components to protect our nation’s great military men and women.

It was in Brooklyn Park that Grace met her beloved husband of 56 years, Conrad (Connie) Koch, Jr. and where they later married on August 10, 1968.  Together, Grace and Connie share three daughters, Angela Hood, Christine Smith (husband Jeff Sr.), and Lori Lynch (husband John).  However, Grace’s true pride and joy, much to the consternation of her daughters, were her 8 grandchildren, Jeffrey Smith Jr., Hailey Shojamanesh (husband Nick), Jenna Hood, Jacob Smith, Jordan Smith, Conall Sellers, Joshua Smith and Riley Hood, her great-grandson, Zayden Reuther and her great-granddaughter-to-be, Baby Shojamanesh. Grace is also survived by her siblings, Charles Johnson, Jr. (wife Fran) and Betty Davenport (husband Bob).

Grace is most famous for two things: making immediate and lifelong friends, and her potato salad. Throughout her life, Grace could be found joining softball leagues, bowling leagues, aquatic classes, or playing a mean game of hearts.  It was through these activities that she expanded her ever-growing list of friends, though it can also be said that Grace would make a friend through a wrong number or while standing in line at the grocery store. Once you were in her orbit, you found a fierce, loyal and giving woman who took great joy in providing care to others.

One of Grace’s passions, behind family, friends and football, was cooking.  Her most popular and most requested dish was her legendary potato salad.  We’d try to give you the recipe, but it was made with a dash, pinch, drop and scoop of love.  If you were lucky enough to receive this dish at your potluck, picnic or dinner, just know that you were truly treasured.

Grace was adamant that her passing be a time to celebrate her life instead of mourning her death.  She wanted a light, bright, and joyous affair.  As such, her family requests that if you are attending her funeral service on Wednesday, March 5th, that you wear Grace’s favorite color pink, if you are able.

Family requests relatives and friends visit Gonce Funeral Service, P.A., 4001 Ritchie Highway, on Tuesday March 4th from 3-5pm and 7-9pm.  A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, March 5th at 11am, followed by interment in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Flowers are appreciated and accepted, though in lieu of flowers, you may donate to Grace’s favorite charity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR?px=8729156&fr_id=154020&pg=personal

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Grace Koch, please visit our floral store.