Shirley A. Grant, 84
Dateline: Mansfield, MA
Shirley A. (Smith) Grant, age 84, of Mansfield, formerly of Florida and Kingston, RI passed away on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at the Maples Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Wrentham.
She was the beloved wife of the late Donald M. Grant to whom she was wed for 53 years at the time of his death on August 19, 2009.
Born in Shannock, Rhode Island on January 2, 1930, she was a loving daughter of the late William and Rose (Pariseau) Smith.
Shirley grew up in Wakefield, RI, was educated in South Kingstown, RI schools and graduated from South Kingstown High School. She furthered her education and was a graduate of the Rhode Island Hospital School of Nursing where she her degree as a registered nurse.
At the age of 47, Mrs. Grant returned to school and became one of the first nurse practitioner in the country. She retired as a nurse practitioner following 20 years of employment at the University of Rhode Island in Kingstown.
Shirley was exceptionally proud of being an advocate for women’s health and while at the University of Rhode Island was the first director of the Women’s Clinic at URI.
A resident of Mansfield for the past 5 years, she was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Mansfield. She served as a faithful caregiver to her late husband Donald and when she became a grandmother it was truly the “icing on the cake”
She is survived by her devoted children, Nancy E. Mahoney and her husband James of Mansfield and Douglas P. Grant and his wife Kathleen of Stowe, Vermont. She was the cherished grandmother of Ellen E. Mahoney of Mansfield. She was the dear sister of Mary E. Atkinson of Bradenton, Florida and is also survived by her loving niece, Kristina A. Atkinson of Bradenton, Florida as well as her two poodles, “Charley” and “Percy”
Her Memorial Mass, to which relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend, will be held on Saturday, March 15th at 9:00 A.M. in St. Mary’s Church, 330 Pratt St. (Route 106) Mansfield. Burial will be private.
Visiting hours have been omitted and those wishing may remember Mrs. Grant with a donation in her memory made to Bishop Feehan High School, 70 Holcott Drive, Attleboro, MA 02703.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of the Sherman & Jackson Funeral Home, 55 North Main St., Mansfield.
To send Shirley’s family a message of condolence, please visit www.shermanjackson.com