1937 - 2023
Theresa R. Grant
Born October 8, 1937
Returned to Heaven November 13, 2023
Obituary of Theresa Rosemary Grant
Theresa Rosemary Grant was born on October 8, 1937, and returned home to Heaven on November 13, 2023. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Thomas J. Grant; her 5 children: Mary G. (Robert) Cruz, Thomas L. (Bonnie) Grant, Christopher J. (Maura) Grant, Theresa G. Anderson, and Jennifer G. (Derek) Moitoso; her 13 grandchildren: Allison(Kevin), Stephen (Chelsea), Meghan (Patrick), Cailin (Stephen), James, Brenna, Zachary, Braeden, Liam, Ian, Maeve, Conor and Ronan; and her 2 great-grandchildren: Theodore and Juliana.
Wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Theresa was a warm, loving, and selfless woman who led by example in her devotion to family, friends, community, and her faith. She lived her life in the shadow of Jesus and was a devout, lifelong Catholic and daily Communicant. Born and raised in the South Bronx, Theresa attended grade school at St. Luke’s, secondary school at The Assisium, and did preliminary studies at Hunter College. She was a talented and valued employee for several companies during her early career, including National Electrotype and St. Regis Paper Company.
Theresa met her husband Tom in November 1955 while attending a Catholic singles dance at the Cresthaven Country Club in Whitestone. With Theresa living in the Bronx and Tom in Queens, theirs was an inter-borough courtship, replete with movies, dancing, picnics, and parking tickets. They were married on October 25, 1958, and embarked on apartment living in Queens, first in Bayside and then Flushing, before leaving the city to buy a house and begin a new life in New Hyde Park, Long Island.
Suburban life apparently agreed with the couple, and their family grew to include four children by the time they celebrated their 5th wedding anniversary. However, their family was notcomplete until the arrival of their fifth and youngest child 11 years later. A stay-at-home mom for many years, Theresa sought to instill in her family a strong Catholic faith, a commitment to Christian values, and an unrelenting sense of fairness. She was a stalwart advocate for her children’s education and always encouraged them, particularly her daughters, to ignore social constraints when pursuing their goals and dreams.
Outside the home, Theresa was many things to many people: loyal, compassionate, smart, humble, hardworking, generous,and charitable. Drawn towards service, she was an active member of Notre Dame Parish, where her many contributionsincluded school board, parish council, parish newspaper, FISH, bereavement committee, spiritual life center and numerous other activities and ministries.
Theresa was an avid reader, a gifted writer, an expert typist, and a stickler for grammar and punctuation - traits which served her well when she returned to the work force after her youngest child started school. She proceeded to work for many years at several local public and parochial schools, endearing herself to principals, staff, students, and parents alike with her energy,thoughtfulness, and innate ability to get things done. She retired as Assistant to the Principal at Our Lady of the Snows School in Floral Park, NY, where, despite not being a teacher herself, was once voted “Teacher of the Year”.
In retirement, Theresa loved to spend time with her family and friends, babysit her grandkids, tend to her garden, and take longwalks with family and friends. A life-long enthusiast of dancing and music, she radiated joy when surrounded by loved ones on the dance floor at weddings and other celebrations. Her Catholic faith remained a constant in her life, and she continued to pursueoutreach activities and ways to serve the community.
During the last 20 years of her life, Theresa bravely battled Alzheimier’s disease with her loving husband, Tom, by her side. He took gentle, loving, and devoted care of her by visiting her daily and bringing her favorite sweet treats, taking her for walks to feel the sun and air, and tirelessly advocating for her care and wellbeing. Even as the disease progressed, Theresa always recognized Tom - his voice and his touch - and would smilewhen he walked into the room or at the mention of his name.Theirs was truly a love that Alzheimer’s could not take away.
Theresa blessed the lives of many and will be dearly missed. Her family is comforted in knowing she is now free from her earthly confines and has taken her place in Heaven, alongside the Angels who went before her. She is now dancing, singing, and watching over her loved ones who still need her guidance here on earth.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to UsAgainstAlzheimers at Honoring Theresa Grant and her Fight Against Alzheimer's (usagainstalzheimers.org)
VISITATION
Friday, November 24
6:00 - 8:30 PM
New Hyde Park Funeral Home
506 Lakeville Road, New Hyde Park, NY
FUNERAL MASS
Saturday, November 25
10:45 AM
Notre Dame R.C. Church
45 Mayfair Road, New Hyde Park, NY
DONATIONS:
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to UsAgainstAlzheimer at https://action.usagainstalzheimers.org/a/honoring-theresa [action.usagainstalzheimers.org]
Private Cremation