Mae Vennard Grant

July 2, 1927 to August 14, 2016

Born to Immigrants from Northern Ireland, on July 2, 1927, in Manchester, CT, she was predeceased by her parents, Stewart David Vennard and Mary Patterson Vennard. She was also predeceased by brothers, Stewart and George, who died in childhood, and her beloved sister, Eileen Perry, late of Scotland, CT. Mae was baptized, confirmed, and on May 14, 1949, married at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Manchester, CT, to her high school sweetheart, Earl Hudson Grant, who died on July 10, 2004. Earl and Mae were active members of that Manchester congregation, and contributed there to a stained glass window in their memory. In 1991 Earl and Mae moved to the Old Mill Village of Marstons Mills, MA, where they thoroughly enjoyed Cape Cod living, wonderful new neighbors, and became active members of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Barnstable, MA, a congregation that became their extended family throughout their lives there. A beautiful stained glass window dedicated in their memory, picturing a dolphin and ocean waves, is in the Sanctuary of St Mary’s, Barnstable. Mae relocated to Heatherwood Retirement Community in Yarmouthport, MA in January 2016, where she was very happy and made wonderful friends with neighbors and staff. Following a memorial service her cremains will be interred with Earl’s in the Memorial Garden at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. Barnstable, MA.

Mae is survived by her precious daughters, Susan and Greta, both of whom lovingly cared for her in her final months. She will be missed and mourned by their families, Susan Mae Grant-Nash, Joseph Nash and his daughter and son-in-law, Sue and Ron Ditzel, and their daughters, Abby and Amelia, who loved entertaining their “Grammie Mae” when she vacationed in Putnam, CT., and Greta Eileen Grant McCue and James McCue, of Mashpee, MA, and sons, Michael and Patrick, and daughter, Amy and husband Glenn McCrystal, and their children Cameron and Hannah, of Vernon, CT. Michael and Patrick were the light and joy of their grandparents’ retirement years on Cape Cod, and brought great comfort to both during their final days.   Mae is also survived by dear Irish cousins, David Vennard Knox and his wife, Maye, of Belfast, Northern Ireland, with whom she and her daughters fulfilled her lifelong dream of visiting the birthplace of her parents. Mae and Earl also treasured their extended family of Grant and Perry nieces and nephews, and their CT and Cape Cod friends, neighbors and Church communities, so many of whom provided much appreciated emotional and spiritual support to Mae and her family.

Mae dearly loved her family, and her profession as a Registered Nurse. She was a 1945 graduate of Manchester high School, and recently attended their 71^st reunion. She graduated from the New England Deaconess Hospital in 1948, attended Manchester Community College, and graduated from Eastern CT State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work in 1983. Mae began her nursing career and worked for many years at Manchester Memorial Hospital, continuing work in Manchester as Director of In-service Education and then as Director of Nursing at Crestfield Convalescent Hospital. She completed her career at the State of CT Department of Social Services, conducting reviews of nursing homes and hospitals in Eastern CT. Mae was a lifelong learner and volunteer, from Girl Scout Leader for her daughters, to facilitator of support groups for the American Cancer Society, Salvation Army Soup Kitchen, and myriad church committees and activities. In recent years Mae brought joy and comfort to friends, family and parishioners through her ministry of sending cards and letters for birthdays, anniversaries and condolences.

Mae and her daughters invite all who wish to attend to come to her memorial service and collation following interment, at St Mary’s Episcopal Church, Route 6A, Barnstable, MA, on Saturday, August 20, 2016, at 2:00 PM. Donations may be made in her name to the St. Mary’s Memorial Garden, or to a scholarship in Mae and Earl Grant’s name, at ­­­­­­the Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, 25 Benjamin Franklin Way, Hyannis, MA 02601, or any branch of that bank. This scholarship will be offered to students of Mashpee High School and Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, who wish to pursue a nursing career, and/or exemplify compassion and kindness in their volunteer activities.

Susan and Greta offer heartfelt thanks to all who helped them care for Mae in her final months in CT, family, friends, members of St. Mary’s in Barnstable and Manchester, and Trinity Episcopal Church in Brooklyn, CT, and Dr. Xeller, Dr. Baum and the entire staff of Day Kimball Hospital, especially the E.D., 1 East, Pastoral Care and Hospice.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Gilman & Valade Funeral Homes and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam, CT 06260. For memorial guestbook please visit www.GilmanAndValade.com.

Offer Condolence for the family of Mae Vennard Grant

 Print Obituary & Condolences