M. Rita Grant

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M. Rita Grant

NORWAY —  M. Rita Grant, 96, died Monday, May 7, 2012 at Stephens Memorial Hospital. She was born on May 21, 1915, the daughter of James E. Burke and Mary Carroll Burke of Waltham, MA. She graduated from St. Joseph's grammar school and St. Mary's High School in Waltham, MA. She attended classes at Boston University, but moved to Maine in 1946. For 12 years Mrs. Grant was employed at Waltham Watch Co. as an inspector in the automotive division. She rose through the ranks from bench inspector to floor inspector to supervisor.

After moving to Maine she lived in North Leeds, where her husband, C.Warren Grant ran a poultry farm at his old ancestral home. This continued for 13 years, until the family moved to Norway where Mr. Grant became head of quality control at Maine Machine Products in South Paris.

Mrs. Grant was active in the St. Catherine's ladies guild until it disbanded, having been vice president and treasurer. She was a girl scout leader for four years, taught Sunday school for 15 years, has been a member of the choir at St. Catherine's church for over 30 years and was an active volunteer at the Food Pantry and Community Lunch. Mrs. Grant was also a member the Third Order of St. Dominic. She liked to read, crochet and write humorous poems and short stories and talk to her grandchildren.

She is survived by five children, Marguerite Grant of North Leeds, Warren (Buddy) Grant and Diana Batchelder of Peterborough, NH, Maud and Brian Aldrich of York Beach, Louise Grant and William Brown of Oxford and Mary and Edward Chouinard of South Paris; 15 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Mrs. Grant was predeceased by her husband of 38 years, C. Warren Grant; a sister, Margaret Wing and two brothers, James E. and John A. Burke.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, May 11 at 11 a.m. at St. Catherine of Sienna Church in Norway. Family and friends may attend visitation on Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at Chandler Funeral Homes & Cremation Service, 45 Main St., South Paris. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Catherine of Sienna Church in Norway or the Community of the Resurrection, PO Box 284, Casco, ME 04015. On-line condolences may be shared with her family at www.chandlerfunerals.com.