Thelma V. Grant

Thelma V. Grant, 91, of Topsham and formerly of Sanford died on Sunday, February 21, 2010 at the Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick.Thelma was born in Woodland on June 30, 1918 to Raymond and Adelma (Laffaty) Newbegin Sr. She lived in Caribou until the age of 14 when she moved to Bowdoin. She attended local schools, graduating from Edward Little High School. She moved to Sanford as a young woman and began working in the Sanford mills. She also owned and managed rental property on Oak Street in Springvale. On December 14, 1957, she married Paul V. Grant and the couple would spend the next 50 years together. She was a very caring woman and acted as a caregiver to several of her friends and family members when their health began to decline. In 2009 Thelma moved to Topsham to be closer to family.Thelma had been a communicant of St. Therse of Lisieux Parish, Notre Dame Church and a member of the 1918 Club. She enjoyed spending time with family, camping in her motor home, cooking, doing her own carpentry work, entertaining friends, playing cards and her black poodle Bridget. She also liked going to lunch at the Trafton Senior Center in Sanford. Thelma will be remembered for her honest sense of humor, compassion for others, love for the Catholic faith and her strength and resilience. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends.Thelma was predeceased by her husband, Paul V. Grant and by four siblings, Clifford Newbegin, Floyd Newbegin, Raymond Newbegin and Arlene Henry.Surviving are two sisters, Geneva Adams of Freeport and Margaret McCollum of Huntingtown, MD; a niece, Karen Mayo of Bowdoin; a great nephew, Adam Mayo of Bowdoin; two great-nieces, Jessica and Jennifer Mayo of Bowdoin; two step daughters, Jackie Vezina and her husband Roger of Florida and Carol Stead and her husband Roger of Virginia; several step-grandchildren and step-great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Thursday, February 25th at the Lafrance- Lambert & Black Funeral Home, 29 Winter Street in Sanford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Friday, February 26th at St. Therse of Lisieux Parish, Notre Dame Church, located on Payne Street in Springvale.Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Trafton Senior Center, P.O. Box 249, Sanford, ME 04073.To leave a message of condolence for the family please click on the condolences tab to the left.