Loraine F. Granai

NORTHFIELD FALLS - Loraine Friberg Granai died March 27 surrounded by family at the home she shared with her daughter and son-in-law in Northfield Falls.

Loraine was born March 28, 1925 in Barre. She was the daughter of Anton and Emma (Svenson) Friberg, both immigrants from Sweden who met in Central Vermont. Loraine admired the courage it took her parents to leave their homeland so young, and she was proud of her Swedish roots. She grew up in Barre, graduated from Spaulding High School in the Class of 1943 and from Skidmore College in the Class of 1947.               Loraine was married to her forever-love Cornelius O. Granai Jr. (Ki) for 68 years. He died a year before her. They met at the Lincoln School skating rink in eighth grade; they dated all through high school; she waited for him while he served in WWII; they married, had three children and lived in Burlington, Syracuse and Fort Belvoire, before moving back to Barre where they set up Ki’s medical practice. They moved to Northfield Falls to be closer to family only when their home and gardens on Abbott Avenue became too much for them to tend. Wherever they lived, Loraine made their house a home and found ways to serve the community.

Loraine was a great believer in Barre, and she worked hard for the betterment of the city. She was on the committee that pushed through the “new” Spaulding High School, as well as on the original committee for the restoration of the Opera House. She helped organize the early Heritage Festivals and wore her traditional Swedish folk dress in the parades. She ran the American Red Cross blood drawings for ten years and volunteered for many other organizations including the Aldrich Public Library and the Barre History Center. She was on several state boards, working diligently for Camp Hochelaga through the YWCA. She was a member of the Philomathians and was the longest sustaining member of the Barre Congregational Church. Her service was done with a generous heart and not for recognition, but she was grateful when she was honored with a Community Service Award.

Loraine and Ki’s door was open to everyone, but Loraine had an especially soft spot for children. When she and Ki lived across from the skating rink at Lincoln School, children would know they could always go into the Granais’ house to get warm, use the phone, and get their skate laces tightened. Children were always given the benefit of the doubt with the phrase, “They didn’t mean to.” Her dresser drawers held a not-so-secret stash of candy that she loved to have her grandchildren and great grandchildren “find.” Even her pets knew that if they could sneak their way to her they could get a treat. After her children left home, she earned a teaching certificate, working for a time as a kindergarten teacher in the basement of a church in East Montpelier as well as in a special education classroom at Lincoln School.

Loraine’s crafting hobbies included knitting and rug hooking. Everyone in the family has at least one rug that she made. She also enjoyed skiing, golfing and traveling with Ki. While all of those things brought her pleasure, her greatest joy in life came from spending time with family. She raised her children with a blend of practicality and unending love and support. Her love made each person feel special, and her smile let even strangers know that she was someone who cared. That example of love is a gift that she gave to all who knew her, and it will be greatly missed.

She is survived by

Son: Cornelius (Skip) Granai III (Ann Kirby), Providence, Rhode Island

Grandchildren: Cornelius (Tad) Granai IV (Lindsey) , Robert Granai (Audra) 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

Sisters-in-law: Carolyn Vercoe and Joanne Granai

Many beloved nieces, nephews and her caregivers Lauren O’Grady Heath and Charles Merrill

Predeceased by: her husband, siblings and spouses, Melvin and Merilyn Friberg and Robert and Sylvia Stewart, brothers-in-law Edwin Granai and Norman Vercoe.

Per their wishes, Loraine’s and Ki’s ashes will be co-mingled, and they will be buried in Hope Cemetery. A gathering of the family in her honor will take place on Saturday, April 1. There will be no service or calling hours, as was her wish. People wishing to express condolences to the family may send a card to P.O. Box 151 Northfield Falls, VT 05664. If people want to donate in her name, three organizations close to her heart were the Aldrich Public Library, 6 Washington St. Barre, VT 05641, the Barre History Center, 60 Washington St. Barre, VT 05641 and the Barre Congregational Church, 35 Church St. Barre, VT 05641.