Julia Theresa Carroll Grindrod,daughter of Charles Carroll and May Stojeba, passed away peacefully surrounded by loving family and friends on Tuesday, April 24th, at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck. She was 91 years old and, except for the last few days of her life, was a feisty, fun-loving woman who engendered deep affection in all who knew her. Julie was predeceased by her husband of 43 years, James Grindrod, in 1995 and by her companion of five years, Frank Cimmino, in 2001. A first marriage to John Coffey ended in divorce in 1952.
Julie was born in Manhattan on October 6, 1920 and grew up in Brooklyn. Her twin sister Janet Corrigan predeceased her in 1984. Julie left Girls High at 16 years old to become a hostess in the fabled Schrafft’s Restaurants where she worked for 16 years. She loved her time there and interrupted it only to serve her country during WW II. In 1943 she joined the Women’s Auxiliary Volunteer Enlistment – the US Navy WAVES – and was discharged honorably in 1945. She spent her war service as aide to Admiral Foy at the Army-Navy Staff College in Washington, D.C. She loved to tell about her assignments acting as courier for sensitive documents, escorted by tall, handsome Marines. She often said these were among the best years of her life.
Julie married Jimmy in 1952 and moved to Yonkers, New York where they raised their three daughters. From 1975 to 1990 she worked as a cashier at Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville, New York. She took great pride in her working life and had a strong work ethic. She always wanted to be doing useful work. She loved animals and over the years, the Grindrod house was home to many cats, dogs, hamsters, guinea pigs, turtles, rabbits and even, for a short time, a spider monkey. Julie was a talented seamstress who spent many hours at her sewing machine creating beautiful items. She had a gift for making people feel better when they were going through hard times. She survived many physical challenges, including a massive cerebral hemorrhage in 2006 which she overcame by hard work and fierce determination to go on to live another six productive and enjoyable years.
Julie is survived by daughter Jacqueline Grindrod and daughter-in-law Linda Harrison of Teaneck, daughter Barbara Warner of Apex, North Carolina, daughter Janet Lee Horrell of New Fairfield Connecticut, and granddaughter Elizabeth Barker of Brooklyn. Also left to mourn are her younger sister and brother, Marjorie Sica and Charles Carroll, her niece Carolyn Finley-Schellhase, nephews Bill Sica, Michael Sica and Robert Ebel, many other nieces and nephews, her devoted aide and companion Ana Trinidad, and her miniature fox terrier “Bentley.” Much joy and laughter left the world when Julie died, but those who love her trust that she is in a better place.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit on Thursday 2-4 & 7-9 PM at Volk Leber Funeral Home, 789 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, NJ and on Friday 2-4 & 7-9 PM at Flynn Memorial Home, 1625 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers, NY. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 AM Saturday at St. Eugene’s RC Church, Yonkers, NY. Interment to follow at Holy Mount Cemetery, Tuckahoe, NY.