Born in the Peruvian mountains in 1948, Graciella's upbringing, surrounded by nine siblings and teacher parents, instilled in her strong values of resilience, community, and cultural heritage.

She was educated at a St. Vincent de Paul school. To support her family, she worked in sales and representation within construction companies, showing adaptability and commitment.

Married for 54 years, Graciella and her husband moved to Australia to ensure family unity and provide better opportunities, overcoming challenges related to language and cultural adaptation with determination.

Graciella actively supports Spanish-speaking immigrants through Fusion, an organisation in Australia, aiding their transition and promoting well-being, exemplifying her dedication to community service and social support.

Graciella helps seniors connect with family through technology, fostering a sense of global family. She emphasises learning and using tools like WhatsApp for maintaining relationships and community ties.

Her life's philosophy centres around understanding, respect, and solidarity. Graciella believes in open conversations, learning from multiculturalism, and maintaining a positive attitude to enhance health and family relations.

Graciella shares her wisdom about caring for others, seeing beyond appearances, and overcoming adversity is a testament to her life's journey, emphasising love and community contribution and above all continuing to learn.

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We hope that you enjoyed this episode of Kintsugi Heroes.

Please take care: if you have been triggered by listening to this episode we recommend you get in contact with someone who can help keep you safe and give you the support you need. This may be Lifeline, AA, a friend, a counsellor, or some other support group.

If you’d like to share your story on Kintsugi Heroes, please get in touch by contacting us via the website here - https://www.kintsugiheroes.com.au/contact

We hope you continue enjoying the heroes stories!

Warmly,

The Kintsugi Heroes team

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Theme Song: "Broken" by Colin Lillie

This Limited Kintsugi Heroes podcast series was made possible with grant funding from the NSW Department of Communities & Justice Connecting Seniors Grant Program. To find out more about the program, head to https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/connecting-seniors-grant-program-2025.