Mary Ann Grant

Mary Ann Grant, who was a nurse, flower gardener, and lover of people, passed away on July 8, 2023, at her home in Greenfield, New Hampshire. She was 78.

Mary Ann was born in Seroe Colorado, Aruba, on January 27, 1945, the daughter of Joseph and Marjorie (Eagan) Proterra.

She spent her childhood in Aruba, raised in the “Lago colony” located on the southeastern tip of the island. This area is home to Baby Beach, where she spent many afternoons with family and friends.

Mary Ann came to the U.S. in 1963 to attend Catholic University where she received her degree in nursing. Nursing and caring for others would come to define her life.

After graduation, she joined the U.S. Navy and worked for two years at Bethesda Naval Hospital. After the Navy, she moved to Connecticut, where she met her husband Jim, a marriage that lasted 41 years until his death in 2014. They moved around New England early in their marriage and settled in Greenfield with their two young children in 1982. Mary Ann would call Greenfield home for the next 40 years.

Mary Ann spent her entire career working as a nurse, her last full-time position as Director of Nurses at Good Shepherd Nursing Home in Jaffrey. Her time in retirement looked a lot like her professional life – caring for others. Whether putting together welcome baskets for new Greenfield residents as part of the GIVERS, driving a friend to a medical appointment, or volunteering to help with a fundraiser for one of the myriad efforts she was involved with in town, she was always looking to help. In her free time, you could find her tending to her flower garden or rooting for one of her two favorite sports teams, the Golden State Warriors and the New York Yankees.

Mary Ann was a bright light and will be missed by many. She is survived by her children, Deirdre and Rob Grant, her grandchildren Holden and Harper Grant, her brother and his family, John, Jan, Katherine and Daniel Proterra and her best friend, Mary Ann Beard.

A funeral mass will be held at Divine Mercy Catholic Church in Peterborough, NH at 11AM on Friday, July 21st. Please consider wearing a bright color in her honor. A Celebration of Mary Ann's life will be held on Saturday, July 22nd from 1PM - 3PM at Oak Park, 971 Forest Road, Greenfield NH. All are welcome to attend.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mary Ann’s name to: Stephenson Memorial Library, the Greenfield Fire Auxiliary or the Oak Park Committee.