Grace’s message to all her Akwesasne and area friends

Hello Folks!

Remember me? Grace Latreille (aka Grace Rule) – your Stanley Lady! I’m inviting you to a book signing at my home. It’s 107 Webster Street in Malone. I’d love to see all of you again! It’s July 14 (Sunday afternoon) at 2:00 pm. I am now the author of several children’s books and I’d like you to have some and I’ll gladly sign them. They are different, clean, the type of stories you might share and enjoy with your children. I plan to have a good display and I hope to sell them all! Come on over. It will be like old times! Home made cookies and punch will add to the excitement of the day. Everyone is welcome! I’ll be looking for you. Grace Latreille-Rule.

By Randy Jock-Reidy

I met with Grace and found an interesting lady. She is now on the verge of turning 88 years and has much to tell. For over two hours she spoke to me and I was fascinated with not only how and why she wrote these children’s books, which sometimes teaches us adults, as well as the children, about life’s lessons. But I was moved by her own personal stories and how she adores her friends here in Akwesasne. Grace is a walking inspiration of what we can do to get through the battles of life, and how much we can accomplish if we set our minds in motion to get things done, even when the odds are against us. Grace has written 12 books recently and is working on an autobiography. Despite some very serious health issues and dealing with good days and bad days, pain, treatments, and everything else that can bring anybody, any age……down. She still goes on and keeps busy. After marrying in 1944, she raised six children, which stands alone as being quite a challenge. From her Fort Covington, New York residence, she sold Stanley Products and rose to the top in her career. Along the way, she made many friends. She recalls when she got in a car accident and suffered life threatening injuries, Grace fondly remembers receiving hundreds of cards and concerns from her friends in Akwesasne, and how warmly she was treated in many other circumstances. Grace is also known as the “Doll Lady.” She has gathered thousands of dolls that are highly regarded whether you’re a collector, some valuable, some very personal, and some take on “human-like” characteristics because they have to be taken care of in similar fashion. Like the necessities of dressing, sewing, beading, and generally taking care of her dolls, she weaves these stories through her life and applies her gains and losses as another way of telling life’s lessons. Take the time to either meet with her for the first time, or if you haven’t seen her in a while, catch up on old times on July 14. You’ll also meet the illustrator of her books who also is calling attention to herself, Jean Schroth (her niece). To get to Webster Street (#107,white house, red door) in Malone, from the Route 37 and Route 11 intersection, head one block toward downtown, turn right at the YMCA and you’re on Webster. Go past Jones Street and then it’s not far beyond.