Obituary of Penelope G. Grant

At Home, Feb. 8,2011, Penelope G."Penny" Roche Grant, 69, of Elmer St., New Haven. Wife of James J. Grant Jr. Mother of Michael ( Valerie ) Grant of Wethersfield and Daniel ( Heather ) Grant of Farmington. Grandmother of Matthew and Makayla Grant. Daughter of Gertrude Hickey Roche of MA and the late Lester Roche. Sister of April Carty ( Bruce ) Palmer of NC, Marybeth ( Richard ) Jolda of MA, James( Mauria ) Roche of TX, Jack ( Nancy ) Roche of MA and Michael ( Peggy) Roche of Hartford. Also survived by several nieces and nephews. Born Aug. 9,1941 in Hartford CT., she graduated from Simons Free High School in Warner,NH and had attended Eastern Carolina State University and Clark University. She served with the USMC during the Vietnam era and while serving she graduated from the Defense Information School of Journalism.Penny had been employed as a writer, editor and photographer for several newspapers including the Worchester Telegram and Gazette and the Newark News. In 1970 she recieved the Associated Press award for advocacy in journalism. She was a member of the Assoc. of Decorative Artists and her designs and folk art were displayed by interior designers, gift shops and art studios.Her work was also featured in several local and regional juried art exibits . She was a member of the Pet Animal Welfare Society and the Ct. Humane Society. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday morning at 10:00 in St. Bernadette Church, New Haven. Interment will be private. Memorial contributions are requested to be made to the American Lung Assoc. 45 Ash St., Hatford,CT 06108. arrangements are with the Clancy Funeral Home, 43 Kirkham Ave., East Haven