Raymond L. Gruda

Raymond L. Gruda, 48, of Herrick Township, PA, formerly of Jaffrey, NH, died unexpectedly and peacefully at home on Thursday October 19th. 

Ray was born on April 8, 1975, in Concord, MA.  He moved to Jaffrey when he was in elementary school and later graduated from St. Pat’s and Conant High School.  Growing up, he was an active member of Boy Scout Troop 33 and was elected to the Order of the Arrow.  An avid outdoorsman, Ray found joy hunting, snowmobiling, and teaching his siblings’ children how to fish.

Ray met his longtime partner, Deborah Brahm, in 2006, and they finally made it official in September of 2021, with a backyard wedding at their home in Peterborough, NH.  Ray was a proud stepfather to Spence David Parker of Juno, Alaska, and Specialist Graham Daniel Parker of Fort Moore, GA.  Ray and Deb had recently moved to Pennsylvania and were building their dream retirement home.

Ray is also survived by his mother, Shirley Kowalski, and his father, Raymond S. Gruda and his wife Mary, all of Jaffrey, NH; his siblings, Jennifer Gruda of Arlington, VA, Joseph Gruda of Jaffrey, NH, and Walter Gruda and his wife Jessica, of New Ipswich, NH; his nieces and nephews, Hannalise Gruda, Oliver Luhtjarv, and Zachary and Adam Knight; and countless aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Calling hours will be held on Saturday, October 28, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Jones & Brennan Funeral Home, 430 Main Street, Forest City, and will be immediately followed by a memorial service at the funeral home.  The family also plans to hold a celebration of Ray’s life in Jaffrey on a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project at woundedwarriorproject.org/donate or the Surfers Healing Foundation at surfershealing.org/

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Raymond L. Gruda, please visit our floral store.