Grace Minard Niepke of Poughkeepsie, NY, passed away Tues, Sept. 29, at Quaker Hill Manor, Hyde Park. She was 98. The daughter of the late Frederick and Mary Minard, Grace was born May 21, 1917, in Highland, NY. She married Richard Niepke on Sept. 28, 1941. They had two children, daughters Dixie and Vicki. Grace's early life was not easy. She would regale family and friends with stories about the "old days"---watching her sister hitch up their horse to a wagon; swimming in the Hudson River wearing a bathing suit her mother had made from scraps of cloth. When she was older, Grace, her sister and her nephew walked over the Mid Hudson Bridge the day it opened on Aug. 25, 1930. She was in the crowd and waved to the King and Queen of England when they visited Hyde Park on June 11, 1939. After Grace met and married Richard (Dick) Niepke, she took pride in being a mother and homemaker. Besides being a great cook and baker, she was also very handy---she even had her own toolbox and could wire a lamp! Her hobbies included crocheting and gardening and she enjoyed swimming throughout her life. She had a wonderful sense of humor. Over the years, Grace had several pets, including dogs Spotty, (2) Tillies, Heidi and a talking parakeet named Joe. Special people in Grace's life included long time neighbor and friend Joseph Fiacco and Helen Wheeler. If it was not for Joey and Grace's other wonderful Adams Street neighbors, she would not have been able to stay independently in her home for as long as she did (and she appreciated all those cannolis, Joey!). Yung Nguyen was a dear friend. She loved sisters Ni and Ti like daughters and they taught her how to cook Vietnamese style. Thanks to the staff of Quaker Hill Manor, especially to all of her "kiddos," the nurses and aids on the second floor, who became her friends and treated her with dignity and respect. Their professionalism and care of Grace, as her departure from this life was near, is so greatly appreciated. Survivors include her loving daughter Vicki Peters; loving son-in-aw Edward Peters; and loving, beloved granddaughter Tia-Justine Grace Peters. Grace was predeceased by her husband Richard; sister Jennie (Coy); and brothers Raymond and Harold. She also leaves several nieces and nephews. Mom---we will miss you. Visitation will be held on Monday, October 5, 2015 from 7 to 9 pm, at Parmele, Auchmoody & Schoonmaker Funeral Home, 110 Fulton Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12603. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, October 6, 2015 from the funeral home at 11 am. Burial will follow in Freedom Plains Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Grace's name to the Dutchess County SPCA, 636 Violet Ave., Hyde Park, NY 12538.