Grace Chaffin, (nee Del Rosario), age 54, of Highland, formerly of O'Fallon, born August 2, 1953 in Cagayan, Philippines passed away Tuesday, December 25, 2007 as a result of injuries sustained in a recent automobile accident. Grace was a Registered Nurse and was currently employed as a Public Health Nurse by East Side Health District in East St. Louis, Illinois, where she worked for over 6 years. She had recently moved to Highland with her husband and they attended St. Paul Catholic Church, where she sang in the choir. She had previously sung in the choir at the Scott AFB chapel for many years. She was also a member of the Filipino American Association in O'Fallon. Grace's generous spirit will live on as she was able to donate her organs, to better the lives of others, as she did daily through her work as a nurse.

Grace was preceded in death by her parents, Apolinario and Narcisa, nee Corpuz, del Rosario; and her husband, MSgt Marvin Chaffin, USAF (retired), who passed away December 15, 2007, as a result of the same auto accident.

She is survived by three sons, Marine SSgt Edwin (Nereida) Chaffin, currently serving in Japan; Andrew (dear friend Melanie Glauber) of St. Louis; Air Force Amn Jonathan (Julie) Chaffin, currently serving in Texas; three grandchildren Nevia, Nadia, and Edwin, Jr., and dear friends Bob and Helen Greynolds & their children Ryan and Kristina of Oxfordshire, England. Also surviving are her four brothers, Recto, Tirso, Malvar,and Carol del Rosario; and two sisters Saturnina and Jenny del Rosario; all of the Philippines.

Memorial Donations in honor of Mrs. Chaffin are requested to the Chaffin Memorial Fund.

Visitation: Friends may call after 11:30 am, Saturday, December 29, 2007 at St. Clare Catholic Church, 1411 Cross Street, Shiloh, Illinois.

Funeral Service: Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 12:30 pm, Saturday, December 29, 2007 at St. Clare Catholic Church, with Rev. James Deiters presiding.

Interment of Cremated Remains for Marvin and Grace Chaffin will be 10:15 am, Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Mo., with full military honors for him.