Winnie Grant passed away last week. We are sending this information to all FHMNA members because she served on the Falmouth Heights â Maravista Neighborhood Association Board of Directors for many years and was President from 2005 through 2011. She will be missed by all. Below is her formal obituary from Chapman Funeral Home (also see The Falmouth Enterprise online) and information regarding visiting hours, her funeral Mass and a preferred charity for those who choose to make a donation in her memory in lieu of flowers. Condolences may be mailed to her daughter, Drawde Geishecker, at 195 John Parker Road, Falmouth, MA 02536.
Winifred A. (Sweeney) Grant died peacefully on January 28, after a brief illness in her beloved home in Falmouth Heights.
Winnie was born in the Bronx, New York to Patrick and Annie (Doherty) Sweeney, both of County Mayo Ireland. A true New Yorker, Winnie was educated at Cathedral High School and Saint Vincentâs School of Nursing, where she started her dedicated career that spanned 58 years. She was at St. Vincentâs Hospital from 1953 to 1965, during which she became the head nurse in the rehabilitation unit. While living in Connecticut, Winnie worked at Danbury Hospital. The rest of her nursing career was with Falmouth Hospital in the pediatric unit and then Ambulatory Care. As a nurse at Falmouth Hospital, countless children and their parents were cared for and comforted by the high level of care she provided. This support was also shared by the younger nurses that she would take under her wing.
It was through her experience at St. Vincents that she met her husband, Edward Grant, and they had two children, Drawdé and Patrick. Within two short months after moving to Falmouth, Edward died but Winnie persevered by staying in Falmouth to raise their children on her own, and that was something Drawdé and Patrick always told her they were grateful for that decision.
As a committed community member and devout Catholic, Winnie was a member of the Saint Patrickâs Womenâs Guild, serving as their President. She was a communicant and Eucharistic Minister for both Saint Thomas Chapel and Saint Patrick Church. She was a longtime member and President of the Falmouth Heights-Maravista Neighborhood Association. One of her proudest accomplishments while a member of the Falmouth Beautification Council was the creation of the Finish Line Garden that is adjacent to the finish line for the Falmouth Road Race.
Winnie was predeceased by her parents, as well as her sisters Mary Jacques, Sister Ann Sweeney OP, Bridget Ronner, her bother Thomas Sweeney, and her nephew William Ronner. Perhaps the sweetest reunions of all are with her husband Edward, son Patrick and his dog Hadley.
She is survived by her daughter DrawdĂ© Geishecker, and her husband Frank J. III. They loved living in the same town as Winnie, and they included her in all of their family events. Winnie is also survived by two grandsons, who brought complete joy to her life. Edward Geishecker, who would always ask to see his grandmother whenever he was sick or hurt, and always referred to her as âmy nurse.â Charles âCharlieâ Grant was the one person in this world who made her Irish eyes smile again after the death of his father, Patrick. In his own sweet way, Charlie loved to tease her about not having the Internet. Both grandsons were so fortunate to spend time with her afterschool, and that was time she absolutely cherished. Winnie is survived by her sisters Eileen Sweeney and Josephine Gittings, and her brother Patrick Sweeney and his wife Gerry. She also leaves many nieces and nephews, as well as their spouses and children.
Visiting hours will be held on Friday, February 4, from 4 to 7 pm at Chapman Funerals & Cremations, 475 Main Street, Falmouth, MA. A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, February 5, at 10 am at St. Patrick Church, 511 Main Street, Falmouth, followed immediately by burial at St. Joseph Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Saint Thomas Chapel Restoration Fund, c/o Saint Joseph Parish, East Falmouth Highway, East Falmouth MA.