Kathleen Waldron Grant

Kathleen Waldron Grant was a Christmas gift in 1937: shortly after dinner, her parents, John Waldron and Nora Quinn Waldron, welcomed their first child. This auspicious start led to Kathleen’s status as “Christmas Queen” for the remainder of her life, a life which ended peacefully on June 12, 2018. In addition to her parents, Kathleen was preceded in death by her brother, Reverend Monsignor John (“Jack”) Waldron of Brooklyn, NY.

Raised in Far Rockaway, NY, Kathleen had a happy childhood with extended family nearby, spending much of the summer on the beach. After graduating as the valedictorian of her high school class (Stella Maris, ’56), Kathleen worked during the day while attending night school at St. John’s University. By the time she graduated in 1962, Kathleen was married and expecting her third child. She and her then-husband Robert Grant moved to Rockland County, NY where they had two more children. After 14 years in Rockland, the family moved to West Des Moines, Iowa. Kathleen remained in Iowa after she and Robert split up; she established strong friendships and community ties for almost 40 years. In 2014, Kathleen’s physical and cognitive health experiences led to her move to Ithaca, NY.

In 1981, Kathleen earned her master’s degree from Drake University, focusing on vocational rehabilitation and the civil rights of persons with disabilities. She advocated for oppressed and marginalized people as an employee of Easter Seals and the House of Mercy in Des Moines. Kathleen had a strong faith and was active in a Roman Catholic parish in each community she called home: St. Mary’s Star of the Sea (Far Rockaway, NY); St. Peter’s (Haverstraw, NY); Sacred Heart (Suffern, NY); Sacred Heart (West Des Moines, IA), and St. Catherine of Siena (Ithaca, NY). Additionally, Kathleen was a life-long volunteer: she taught religious education, raised money for the Girl Scouts, helped out at the food bank, and was active in Democratic politics, including volunteering for President Barack Obama in the Iowa caucuses in ’08. Notably, Kathleen was a staunch disability rights activist and she embraced her own disability identity. Kathleen enjoyed reading novels and the morning newspaper, savoring mint chocolate-chip ice cream, sipping a morning cup of coffee or an evening glass of wine, attending concerts or art exhibits, and keeping in touch with loved ones.

Kathleen’s superpower was her unconditional love, which she bestowed on her friends, extended family, children and their partners: Bob and Noemi Grant (Des Moines, IA); Tom Grant (Minneapolis, MN); Mary Beth Grant and Henry Granison (Ithaca, NY); John Grant and Ya-Huei Chen (Indiana, PA); and Katie and Guy Daynes (Glencoe, Scotland). The loves of her life were her grandchildren: Charlotte and Samantha Granison; and Jack and Megan Daynes. Nothing and no one could delight “Grandma Kay” more than those four grandkids.

Kathleen’s smile and bright blue eyes lit up every room. Kathleen will be remembered for sending birthday cards, her intelligence, humor, kindness and sassiness.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Kathleen’s life at any of the following times:

In lieu of flowers, please spend a little extra time with a child, send a note to your family member who lives out of town, or enjoy a sunset. Kathleen’s favorite charities were House of Mercy (Des Moines) and Catholic Charities.