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Obituaries
Grace Brierley Witmer’s full and loving life ended peacefully on Dec 19, 2022 at the McCarthy Care Center in Sandwich, MA. Born on April 12, 1941 in Morristown, NJ she was the celebrated first child of Charlotte Moser Brierley and James Samuel Brierley, Ph.D. Her early years were spent amongst an adoring and large extended family. As a child of a military family, Grace moved often - she attended eight elementary schools. This is, perhaps, the reason she so effortlessly made friends.


Mourning her loss are son Jonathan Witmer (partner, Izumi Nakamura); daughters Amy Witmer (partner, Garth Hutton), Christine Witmer Powers (partner, Todd Powers), and daughter-in-law Susan Witmer; grandchildren Jack, Victoria and her daughter Gianna, Paige, Michael, Tessa and Lucia Witmer, Helena and Nathan Hutton as well as Oscar and Mickey Powers; sister Jane Brierley McLogan (husband, Matthew Edwin McLogan) and nieces and nephew Katherine, Molly and Timothy McLogan. Grace also leaves behind her much loved community at the Bethel A.M.E. Church in Plymouth.
Her treasured daughter Suzanne Witmer Biddle preceded Grace in death as did her parents, aunts, uncles, and several cousins.


A 1959 graduate of Dondero High School (Royal Oak, MI), Grace earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Albion College (Albion, MI) in 1963, studying art and elementary education.
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Grace was born to be a teacher. She taught her own children the bedrock lessons of a successful life: love, honesty and perseverance. She taught the required subjects of reading, writing and arithmetic to her elementary students, her joy palatable with each little “Ah-ha” moment. But her most important lesson, and the one at which she excelled, was teaching others to love and believe in themselves.


Throughout her many years of teaching, Grace was a favorite of Plymouth’s children. She couldn’t go anywhere without former students (aka her “chickies”) approaching her to say, “hello'' and share an enduring lesson from their time in her classroom.
Grace viewed life first and always through her heart. Instantly outraged at injustice. A warrior for the underdog. An advocate for rescued animals. A soothing presence for those who struggled.


Grace moved through life with an unbelievably optimistic attitude. Her positive approach to life helped her to exceed expectations and survive stage IV cancer for almost 16 years. Her fighting spirit was an inspiration to many.
You couldn’t ask for a more loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt or friend. Especially during tough times, Grace was the first to offer help, give a hug, or lighten the mood by sharing her unique, healing humor.


It won’t be as easy or nearly as much fun without her physical presence, but our hearts are filled with her legacy of life’s lesson plans. We’re grateful for time with our own Amazing Grace.


Visiting hours in the Cartmell - Davis Life Celebration Funeral Home 373 Court St. North Plymouth (Near Cordage Park) on Tuesday December 27th from 4-7 pm. Funeral Service on Wednesday December 28th at 11:00 am. in the Funeral Home. Private burial will follow at Vine Hills Cemetery Plymouth.


Services will be live streamed at 11:00 am please see the link on our website at www.cartmelldavis.com obituary for Grace Witmer
NFDA
Massachusetts Funeral Directors Associations
Massachusetts Plymouth 400 Business Partners
Selected Independent Funeral Homes
Veteran and Family Memorial Care
Kiwanis International
Lions
Knights of Columbus
Rotary International
© 2023 Cartmell-Davis Funeral & Cremation Service, Inc. |  Design by FireHawk Funerals Pty Ltd & Legacy Tribute Solutions
© 2023 Cartmell-Davis Funeral & Cremation Service, Inc. |  Design by FireHawk Funerals Pty Ltd & Legacy Tribute Solutions

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Kathy Cartmell-Sirrico

Funeral Director

Kathy has been a lifelong resident of Plymouth and grew up in the funeral business. After graduating from Plymouth Carver High in 1974, she earned her Funeral Director’s license at the New England Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences. After her father’s retirement in 1985, Kathy took over his business. She was selected by the Governor of Massachusetts to serve on the State Division of Professional Licensure under the board of Funeral Directing and Embalming for several years which included a position as Chairman. Kathy also served on CURA Visiting Nurses, Cranberry Hospice, and Plymouth Public Library as a board member. Kathy also served on committees for St. Mary Parish in Plymouth. She was the first woman President for the Plymouth Kiwanis. In addition, she also was deployed to St. Charles Parish and New Orleans as a Mortuary Officer for DMORT (Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team) following the events of Hurricane Katrina. Kathy is the proud mother of twins and grandmother of two. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, spending time with friends, family and her dog Morticia.

Paul Santos

Funeral Director

Paul has been a Plymouth native his entire life. He graduated from Plymouth-Carver Regional High School Class of 1971. He attended Massasoit Community College and received a degree in Business Administration. Paul had an interest in the Funeral Industry and decided to attend the New England Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences. He received his funeral directing license in 1975. Paul apprenticed with a local funeral home from 1974-1976. His career took another turn where he became a Sergeant for the Massachusetts Department of Correction. Paul has been retired for the past few years and has rejoined the funeral industry here at Cartmell-Davis. He is a Communicant of St Joseph Church in Kingston as well as a Eucharist Minster. Paul served on the Plymouth Board of Health for eight years where he also served as Chairman for two of those years. Paul is active in the community and is a member of the American Legion Post 40 SAL Squadron, Past Vice President for the Unity Club and is also a member of the Seaside Club, the Hill Top Club, the Columbo Club, the Young America Club. Paul is also a 3rd Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus Council #4480 in Kingston, MA.

Seth Silveira

Funeral Director

Seth has been working with Cartmell-Davis since 2018 and is a recent graduate of Cape Cod Community College, earning his degree in Mortuary Science. A strong sense of service to the elderly and disabled person, he has advocated for their independent living and safe homes prior to joining the funeral home. Seth is a graduate of UMass Dartmouth, Charlton School of Business. In his spare time, Seth enjoys golf, playing the guitar and volunteering as a youth baseball umpire.

Heidie L. Grant

Funeral Director, Licensed Insurance Agent, Certified Funeral Celebrant

Heidie (Lawrence) Grant has worked in the funeral service business for over twenty-five years. She enjoys working with a dedicated, caring and generous staff of people who believe that assisting families during their difficult time is top priority. She believes in meeting and exceeding all expectations throughout the entire funeral planning process and doing whatever possible to make it easier for the family.

Mary Aveni

Funeral Director, Certified Funeral Celebrant

Mary is happy to be back home in Plymouth after living and working on the North Shore of Boston in a well-known funeral home for the past 30 years. Mary attended Plymouth-Carver High School Class of 1980. Following graduation, she attended the New England Institute for Applied Arts and Sciences where she earned her degree in Funeral Service. She joined the Cartmell-Davis team in 2017 and has reacquainted with the community, family and friends. Mary knew her pathway at a young age. Her desire to help people with compassion, comfort and respect has guided her love for funeral service. Mary was asked by NFDA (National Funeral Directors Association) to offer her assistance immediately following the events of September 11th, 2001. Mary worked diligently with DNA Specialists and Families helping them through a horrific time in our nation’s history. Mary is one of four siblings and has 2 nephews. Mary is a proud member of the Plymouth Arts Center. On time off, Mary relaxes by the sand or surf but is always up for listening to music, taking in an art show or seeing a play and spending time with friends and family.

Daniel R. Holland

Care Center Manager, Funeral Director

Dan is a proud graduate of Plymouth North High School Class of 2000. His desire to work with families and the community lead him to attend the Funeral Institute of the Northeast upon his graduation. As a former Mortuary Officer with DMORT (Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team), he has helped families find closure in the worst times such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the Continental Flight 3407 disaster in Buffalo, NY. Dan has been recognized as the top “40 under 40” by the Cape & Plymouth Business Magazine (2017). Always willing to learn, Dan is busy attending classes and seminars to better serve the funeral profession and families. Actively involved in the Lions Club (Past President), you can find him out with his dog Harper, or working on his home with his husband Chris.

Kenneth Dooley

Chief Financial Officer

Kenneth began his career in International Banking in New York City. After 25 years, he decided to start a new career as a business owner in Key West. After 20 years in the event business Kenneth and his husband Peter decided to sell their business. As a recent transplant to Plymouth, Kenneth has joined us in his new position as CFO. Kenneth brings to the table 40 years of accounting and business expertise to our family business focusing on the day to day financial operations.

Jeffrey D. LaForest

Funeral Assistant, After Care Coordinator, Vice President / Owner

Jeff has been part of the Cartmell-Davis family his entire life as cousin to Kathy Cartmell Sirrico. Experienced as a funeral apprentice, he lends a hand, offers an ear to listen and guides survivors to celebrating a life in his work as After Care Coordinator. Jeff believes that “each family grieves differently; no family grieves the same”. Jeff is a former Flight Attendant/Recruiter who retired after a 30 year career with American Airlines. Pairing his knowledge of both the funeral and airline industry, he compassionately cared for the crew members families that lost a loved one following the tragic events of September 11th, 2001. In addition, Jeff is a former Mortuary Officer of DMORT (Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team) and was deployed to New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina where he assisted in recovery efforts. He is a cantor/soloist for St. Bonaventure Parish in Plymouth. Jeff is a proud Uncle to several nieces and nephews, loves spending time with family, friends and his husband John and their two dogs Shelby and M’Lynn.

John J. Vincent, Jr.

Funeral Director and Insurance Agent, President / Owner

A lifelong Plymouth native, John is actively involved in the community with leadership roles with the Lions Club, St. Joseph’s Council #4480, Knights of Columbus, Old Colony Club, Young America Club and the Portuguese Continental Union Lodge #1 Plymouth. Equally, he is dedicated to serving his funeral profession as a member of the Board of Directors for the MA Funeral Directors Association and as a Mortuary Officer with DMORT (Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team) for FEMA. If asked, John would say the most rewarding part of his work is serving families during the most difficult times by listening and helping them through the healing process. He loves being part of a team that shares his compassionate manner and celebratory service. During time off, John loves living in the Pinehills Community with his husband, Jeff, and their two dogs, Shelby and M’Lynn, traveling, the sunshine and spending time with friends.