Frances T. Grillo, 91, of Crystal City died July 7, 2022, at Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City. Mrs. Grillo retired from the J.C. Penney administrative office in west St. Louis County. She was a member of VFW Post 3777 Auxiliary and the Hoe and Hope Garden Club, a member and past president of American Legion Post 253 Auxiliary and a former board member of the Crystal City Parks Department. She was an avid golfer, playing often at the Joachim Golf Club in Herculaneum, and enjoyed bowling at Quonset Lanes in Crystal City, flowers, hosting annual holiday celebrations and spending time with family and friends. Born Oct. 19, 1930, in Crystal City, she was the daughter of the late Effie Leona (Cole) and William Anthony LaBrier Sr.
She is survived by her husband: John F. Grillo; a daughter: Pam (Jerry) Cartee of High Hill; a son: Dwight (Lisa) Bruhn of N. Richland Hills, Texas; a sister: Eileen (the late Lloyd) Fanger of Lake St. Louis; four stepchildren: Sally (Mark) McAvoy of Buda, Texas, Kathy (Tom Nolan) Grillo of St. Louis, Tina Rein of St. Louis and Jim (Karen) Grillo of Webster Groves; nine grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by three sisters: Lillian (the late Louis) Gehrs, Virginia (the late Robert) Brown and Sarah LaBrier; and four brothers: Jerome (the late Margaret) LaBrier, William A. “Specks” (the late Betty) LaBrier Jr., Jack (Evelyn survived of Muncie, Ind.) LaBrier and Alfred (the late Shirley) LaBrier.
Visitation is scheduled from 4 p.m. until a funeral service at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W. Main St., in Festus, officiated by Jim Smetzer and Danny Denton. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.