Catherine Grandia

Catherine Grandia, 97, loving wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away on Tuesday, November 21, 2017, in the comfort of her home.

Catherine was born in Northampton, MA on November 21, 1920, to David and Florence Wright and was the oldest of five children. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Smith College in 1942; about seven months after the United States had entered into WWII. She joined the Navy, attended Officer Training School at Smith College, and was then assigned to the Navy Communications Annex in Washington DC, where she worked on decrypting German code. She met and married Lt. Commander, William (Bill) Grandia of the United States Navy while in Washington DC. She was discharged from the Navy, under honorable conditions, as a Lieutenant, and joined Bill in San Francisco where he was stationed at the time. Bill was later ordered to Philadelphia where they started a family.

When Bill retired from the Navy, the family moved to Albuquerque, NM. There, she was an active leader of the Riverside 4-H Club where she touched many lives. Catherine was also involved with the 4-H Building Corporation and Horse Council. She was a dedicated member of the First Congregational Church where she took a special interest in caring for the rose garden. Catherine was also employed at H&R Block for over 25 years.

She is survived by her youngest child, Rebecca Gibson and husband David of Lindrith, NM; two daughters-in-law, Cheryl Grandia and Linda Metcalfe; nine grandchildren; several step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; her brother George Wright of Amherst, MA; sister-in-law Sally Wright of Wilmington, DE; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by husband, William Grandia; sons David and Jacob Grandia; brothers David and Charles Wright; and sister Carol Putnam.

A viewing will be held Monday, November 27, 2017, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at FRENCH-University. Services will be held on Tuesday, November 28, 2017, at 12:00 noon at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 2801 Lomas Blvd NE. Burial will be at the Santa Fe National Cemetery at 3:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the D.S. Wright Scholarship, Northampton High School, 380 Elm St., Northampton, MA, 01060 or the Lindrith Area Heritage School, c/o Corinne Teller, Finance Director, 5901 Wyoming Blvd, NE, #j199, 87109, 505-269-9119.

Catherine always said: "I had an unexpectedly interesting life and I am grateful for it."

Please visit our online guestbook for Catherine at www.FrenchFunerals.com.