IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Jean
Grele
December 1, 1925 – October 28, 2014
Obituary
Jean Harris Grele died with dignity and grace at St. Mary's Hospital on October 28, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born in Derby, CT on December 1, 1925, and is predeceased by her parents, Emily Senger Harris and Charles E. Harris and her sister Evelyn Harris Blythe. She attended Seymour High School where she formed the basis of many lifelong friendships and where she first met her husband Milton Drummer Grele, with whom she cherished 65 years of wedded bliss.
She began her career as a teller at Seymour Trust and was a conscientious and hardworking employee. The majority of Jean's adult years were spent in Naugatuck, CT raising her family with Milt and living life to the fullest while giving back to the community. She volunteered for many organizations, including the Girl Scouts, the Naugatuck Food Bank, the Waterbury Hospital Gift Shop and Auxiliary Board and Immanuel Lutheran Church. She loved teaching nursery school at the YMCA where she was employed for over 13 years.
She and Milt travelled extensively, taking trips to Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia in addition to many excursions throughout the U.S. They placed a high value on family, faith and friends and celebrated many milestones and holidays entertaining with parties, games, food and song. Their second home on Dayton Road was notable for its generous spaces for family visits with special places for grandchildren both inside and out. Jean gave an abundance of unconditional love to each and every one of them.
Jean was a quintessential hostess and maintained her home with style and a keen attention to detail. She was the master of pea soup, Jewish Coffee Cake and perfected the art of dish garnishing. She was a loyal, devoted friend who always remembered birthdays and other special occasions with phone calls and sent thoughtful notes in her elegant handwriting. Jean was an avid bridge player, an erstwhile golfer and a true wordsmith, dutifully working her daily Jumble. She possessed a sharp, quick wit and an elegant demeanor.
She and Milton moved to Elim Park Place in 2007 and enjoyed building a new community of friendships while engaging in all of its amenities. Jean was frequently seen playing bridge and Scrabble. She enjoyed outings with her "Red Hat Ladies," attending concerts and events in Nelson Hall, taking water aerobics and working in the gift shop. She knew everyone's name and was always ready with a bright smile and cheerful greeting. And she always looked terrific, right up to the end.
In addition to her husband Milton, Jean is also survived by her daughters, Laurie Grele Cain, Lisa Grele Barrie and six amazing grandchildren: Elizabeth, Molly, Tucker and Sam Cain and Ian and Simon Barrie who affectionately referred to her as "Nonny" or "Non." She also leaves behind faithful dog Harri.
Her spirit will live on in her family's memories, in the bright red flicker of a cardinal, in the smell of a freshly baked coffee cake and in the hearts and minds of everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.
A celebration of her life is planned for Saturday, November 29, at 1:00 p.m. in the Nelson Hall at Elim Park, 150 Cook Hill Road, Cheshire, CT. Donations can be made to the Rotary Club of Naugatuck to support the Jean Harris Grele and Milton D. Grele Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 484, Naugatuck, CT 06770. The Bergin Funeral Home, 290 E. Main St., Waterbury has the honor of assisting the family with the arrangements. To leave a message of condolence, share a memory or photo, please visit Jean's page at www.BerginFuneralHome.com.
She was born in Derby, CT on December 1, 1925, and is predeceased by her parents, Emily Senger Harris and Charles E. Harris and her sister Evelyn Harris Blythe. She attended Seymour High School where she formed the basis of many lifelong friendships and where she first met her husband Milton Drummer Grele, with whom she cherished 65 years of wedded bliss.
She began her career as a teller at Seymour Trust and was a conscientious and hardworking employee. The majority of Jean's adult years were spent in Naugatuck, CT raising her family with Milt and living life to the fullest while giving back to the community. She volunteered for many organizations, including the Girl Scouts, the Naugatuck Food Bank, the Waterbury Hospital Gift Shop and Auxiliary Board and Immanuel Lutheran Church. She loved teaching nursery school at the YMCA where she was employed for over 13 years.
She and Milt travelled extensively, taking trips to Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia in addition to many excursions throughout the U.S. They placed a high value on family, faith and friends and celebrated many milestones and holidays entertaining with parties, games, food and song. Their second home on Dayton Road was notable for its generous spaces for family visits with special places for grandchildren both inside and out. Jean gave an abundance of unconditional love to each and every one of them.
Jean was a quintessential hostess and maintained her home with style and a keen attention to detail. She was the master of pea soup, Jewish Coffee Cake and perfected the art of dish garnishing. She was a loyal, devoted friend who always remembered birthdays and other special occasions with phone calls and sent thoughtful notes in her elegant handwriting. Jean was an avid bridge player, an erstwhile golfer and a true wordsmith, dutifully working her daily Jumble. She possessed a sharp, quick wit and an elegant demeanor.
She and Milton moved to Elim Park Place in 2007 and enjoyed building a new community of friendships while engaging in all of its amenities. Jean was frequently seen playing bridge and Scrabble. She enjoyed outings with her "Red Hat Ladies," attending concerts and events in Nelson Hall, taking water aerobics and working in the gift shop. She knew everyone's name and was always ready with a bright smile and cheerful greeting. And she always looked terrific, right up to the end.
In addition to her husband Milton, Jean is also survived by her daughters, Laurie Grele Cain, Lisa Grele Barrie and six amazing grandchildren: Elizabeth, Molly, Tucker and Sam Cain and Ian and Simon Barrie who affectionately referred to her as "Nonny" or "Non." She also leaves behind faithful dog Harri.
Her spirit will live on in her family's memories, in the bright red flicker of a cardinal, in the smell of a freshly baked coffee cake and in the hearts and minds of everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.
A celebration of her life is planned for Saturday, November 29, at 1:00 p.m. in the Nelson Hall at Elim Park, 150 Cook Hill Road, Cheshire, CT. Donations can be made to the Rotary Club of Naugatuck to support the Jean Harris Grele and Milton D. Grele Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 484, Naugatuck, CT 06770. The Bergin Funeral Home, 290 E. Main St., Waterbury has the honor of assisting the family with the arrangements. To leave a message of condolence, share a memory or photo, please visit Jean's page at www.BerginFuneralHome.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jean Grele, please visit our flower store.
Services
Service
November
29
Nelson Hall at Elim Park
Starts at 1:00 pm