Obituary of Shelley Lynn Gruntz

Shelley (Horan) Gruntz, age 57, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia. She was born on May 27, 1959, in Tonawanda, New York to Donald and Phyllis (Niethe) Horan. After high school, she met Peter Gruntz, and shortly thereafter, on November 25, 1977, the two were married and resided in Tonawanda where they started a family. In 1982, Peter and Shelley moved to Northern Virginia to establish roots in Herndon where they raised their two boys, Jeff (Beth) and Peter, aka “PT” to close friends and family. Shelley served as a Histotechnologist and excelled as a certified American Society of Clinical Pathologists professional within the toxicology research community. After 30 years working in the medical research field, Shelley retired from Experimental Pathology Laboratories to focus on her other love and affection, her four grandchildren, Lilly, Matthew, Clara, and Lindsey; daughters and son of Jeff (Beth). Shelley spent the few years of her early retirement sharing her passion for crafts with everyone, especially her grandchildren as she embraced the gratification and joyfulness of grandparenthood. Shelley was a kind-hearted spirit who lived a caring and nurturing life as seen through her uncanny ability to organize get-togethers among family and friends throughout the years. Who doesn’t remember her annual “Spring Flings” where everyone came together for food, friendship, and of course, crafts? She is survived by her husband of 38 years, Peter, sons Jeff (Beth) and Peter Jr., brothers Brian and Brad Horan, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins; and preceded in death by her parents Donald and Phyllis (Niethe) Horan. Shelley was a daughter, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a sister, a sister-in-law, a friend, and a colleague; but most of all, she was a very special gift to everyone. Family, friends, and others, whose lives Shelley touched are invited to the ADAMS-GREEN FUNERAL HOME, 721 Elden St., Herndon, VA from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. and 6 p.m.-8 p.m. on Thursday, October 27, 2016, to reminisce, grieve, support each other and, of course, just chat. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that contributions be made to a charity of your choice in Shelley’s name.