Cornelius O. Granai, Jr.

NORTHFIELD FALLS - Cornelius (Ki) Granai Jr., 90, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at the home of his daughter and son-in-law in Northfield Falls.

Ki was born on September 29, 1925 in Barre, the son of Cornelius and Ruth (Carpenter) Granai.

He attended school in Barre and was in the Spaulding High School class of 1943.

After high school he was part of the V-12 program and was sent to Bates, Middlebury, and Cornell, becoming a commissioned officer in the US Navy and serving on a sub-chaser in the Pacific during World War II. After the war, he studied at Syracuse University on the GI Bill and graduated in the class of 1948. He went on to medical school and was a graduate of the University of Vermont College of Medicine, class of 1952. He was called back into the military during the Army’s “doctor draft” and was stationed at Fort Belvoir in Virginia.

He met his wife of 68 years, Loraine (Friberg) Granai, at the Lincoln School skating rink in the eighth grade, and they were married in 1947 in the Barre Congregational Church,

Eventually he set up a medical practice on South Main Street in Barre, becoming the first OBGYN in Central Vermont. His black “doctor bag” was always near the door for house-calls. At that time he worked out of the Barre City Hospital and Heaton Hospital in Montpelier. When the Central Vermont Hospital was built, his practice moved to “Hospital Hill” where he was a partner over the years with Dirk Romeyn, Stephen Woodruff, and John Coates. Throughout his career, he delivered thousands of babies. He enjoyed meeting people later in life whose children he had delivered, and the people who told him that he had delivered them. He lived through huge changes in the medical field, but through all of the changes, he remained dedicated to caring for his patients. He had a deep respect for all the medical personnel at Central Vermont Hospital, where he served as Chief of Staff. He retired in 1990.

A long-time resident of Barre (and proud of it), he and Loraine moved to Northfield Falls four years ago to be closer to family. That move allowed four generations to tumble around each other daily. His love of family was evident in the way all were welcome with whatever cares they carried into Ki and Loraine’s home. He was a man of integrity who listened, and even if he disagreed, he did so without passing judgment on the person. His steady presence will be greatly missed.

Ki loved spending time with his family any time of year, but he especially enjoyed the summer when the entire family gathered at the family camp in South Hero. Ki and Loraine supported their family in every way possible, including traveling to all the events in which their grandchildren participated. They were the number one fans on the sidelines and in audiences all over New England and beyond.

He was an avid skier for many years, and while he skied in many places, Mad River Glen was his favorite area. Gardening became a passion for him, (woe to any weed), and the gardens around their home on Abbott Avenue in Barre earned a Garden Club award. He also enjoyed traveling, playing golf, reading history-related books and watching old movies, especially ones starring John Wayne. His membership of more than 60 years in the Barre Congregational Church was very important to him.

He is survived by: his wife Loraine.

Son: Cornelius (Skip) Granai, Providence, Rhode Island
Grandchildren: Cornelius (Tad) Granai, Robert Granai and their mother Mary Manzi, Lily Granai, Kile Granai and their mother Cheryl Granai.
Great-Grandchildren: Hannah, Lilah, Ava, Tyler and Ella Granai

Daughter: Mary Corrigan (Edward) Northfield Falls, Vermont
Grandchildren: Kevin Corrigan, Rebecca Corrigan (Adam Feldman), Ann Corrigan
Great-grandchildren: Eli and Owen Feldman

Daughter: Susan Granai (David Van Slyke) Yarmouth, Maine
Grandchildren: Loraine Van Slyke, Anna Van Slyke

German Exchange student/daughter Juliane Walk

Sister: Carolyn Vercoe
Sister-in-law: Joanne Granai

Many beloved nieces and nephews.

Predeceased by: Brother, Edwin Granai, Brother-in-law, Norman Vercoe, his wife’s siblings and spouses, Melvin and Merilyn Friberg and Robert and Sylvia Stewart.

There will be a celebration of Ki’s life beginning at the Barre Congregational Church on Saturday March 19 at 2:00 and continuing at Simply Delicious after the service. All are welcome.

For those wishing to send a note to Loraine, the address is P.O. Box 132, Northfield Falls, VT 05664.

Donations in his memory may be made to any charitable organization, but ones close to Ki’s heart were The Vermont Foodbank 33 Parker Road, Barre, VT 05641 and Home Health and Hospice 600 Granger Rd., Barre, VT 05641.