Gracie McDonnell Called 'The Love And Light' Of Her Family
NEWTOWN, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Grace Audrey McDonnell's grandmother said in a published report that her "girly-girl" loved playing dress-up with her jewelry and wearing pink.
Mary Ann McDonnell told the Boston Herald she sat the day after the massacre surrounded by bags of gifts she had planned to give Gracie, 7, at her Shelton, Conn., home this coming Christmas.
Gracie loved art projects, soccer and gymnastics, and had a King Charles Spaniel named Puddin', her grandmother told the Boston Herald.
PHOTOS: Newtown Shooting Victims
Gracie's parents, Lynn and Chris McDonnell, called their 7-year-old daughter "the love and light" of their family in a statement released by the little girl's uncle.
The family also shared a photo featuring Grace smiling into the camera, her eyes shining and a pink bow adorning her long blonde hair.
"Words cannot adequately express our sense of loss," the McDonnells said.
Visitation for Gracie is scheduled for 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday at St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown. A memorial mass is set for Friday at 11 a.m. at the same church.
In addition to Gracie, the child victims of the massacre were:
• Charlotte Bacon, 6;
• Daniel Barden, 7;
• Olivia Engel, 6;
• Josephine Gay, 7;
• Ana Marquez-Greene, 6;
• Dylan Hockley, 6;
• Catherine Hubbard, 6;
• Madeleine Hsu, 6;
• Chase Kowalski, 7;
• Jesse Lewis, 6;
• James Mattioli, 6;
• Jesse Lewis, 6;
• Emilie Parker, 6;
• Jack Pinto, 6;
• Noah Pozner, 6;
• Caroline Previdi, 6;
• Jessica Rekos, 6;
• Avielle Richman, 6;
• Benjamin Wheeler, 6;
• Allison Wyatt, 6.
Please leave your comments below...
(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
