Graciela (Torrado) Orduz

Graciela “Grace” Orduz Torrado, 81, longtime resident of Manchester, CT, died at Rockville General Hospital on Sunday, November 26, 2017.  She was the daughter of the late Jose and Leticia Torrado, and was predeceased by her loving husband Mario Hugo Orduz.

Grace was born in Colombia, and immigrated to the United States from Venezuela when she was 20 years old with her husband Hugo Orduz and two baby daughters. They had three more children and bought a house in Manchester, CT where they raised their family. Partners in work, they owned and operated a dress manufacturing factory, Orduz Garment Company, in Hartford, CT for many years. They were successful business owners and employed more than 50 people. Graciela was a strong and feisty woman who thought nothing of taking 11 or 12 children camping for a couple of weeks at a time all by herself. More than anything, she loved her family and showed her love by cooking huge delicious meals. She was an amazing cook. Graciela was a hardworking, tough, spunky, and fun-loving woman who loved animals and children and helped raise all of her grandchildren.

She is the beloved mother of five children, Gloria Orduz Carrara of San Francisco, CA and her son-in-law of many years, Jeffrey Carrara, Grace Morrison (Orduz) of Alexandria, VA, Mario Orduz and daughter-in-law, Vivian Orduz, of Port St. Lucie, FL, Ulysses Orduz and son-in-law, Bill Moran, of Ellington, CT and Stella Grzyb, and son-in-law, Jon Grzyb of Madison, CT; seven grandchildren, Jonathan Grzyb, Emily Morrison Campos, Jacob Grzyb, Alana Carrara, Carly Orduz, Blake Orduz, and Christian Carrara; seven great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Julia Grace, Ethan, and Ava Campos and Jonathan lll, Windsor, and Daphne Grzyb; three brothers, Jose Donaldo Torrado and his wife, Empera, of East Hartford, CT, Dr. Alvaro Torrado of Venezuela, Libardo Torrado of Venezuela; and one sister Zoraida Torrado, of Venezuela; Graciela also leaves many beloved nieces, nephews and extended family members. She will be sadly missed by all of us, forever.

Memorial donations may be made, In Memory of Grace, to American Heart Association, P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241 or to a charity of your choice.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, December 1, 2017 from 4:00-7:00 p.m., at Manchester Funeral Home, 142 East Center Street, Manchester, CT. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, December 2, 2017, 10:00 a.m. at St. James Church, 896 Main St., Manchester, CT, with burial to follow at St. James Cemetery. To sign the online memorial guestbook, please visit www.manchesterfh.com

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