Vera G. Grieve
It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved mother, grandmother and friend Vera G. Grieve, age 75 of Danbury. Vera died after a valiant fight with colon cancer at the Regional Hospice and Palliative Care Center for Comfort Care and Healing, Danbury.
Vera, or “mom” and “gram’ as she was affectionately known, was was born in Poughkeepsie, NY, June 5, 1942. She was the daughter of the late George and Mildred (Lane) Stevens, raised in New Hamburg, NY. Vera was an avid shopper and reader; you could find her browsing the aisles of her favorite stores or tucked into her favorite chair reading a good romance novel. She will be best known for her impeccable sense of style, the ear she always lended to friends, her wonderful sense of wit, and how she lived her life with both grace and grit.
A resident of the area since 1959, Vera was a former assistant manager of Chico’s at the Danbury Fair Mall. She took great pride in her work and saw it as her calling to help women select clothing that made them feel beautiful. Her “Chico Girls” (as she called them)— beloved customers and colleagues— became devoted confidants and friends. She was ever so grateful for their friendship and the laughs, tears and memories shared between then.
She was also a realtor for Newtown Country Realty and had owned and operated Vera’s Luncheonette in Newtown. In prior years, Vera worked in the luncheonette section of the former New York Bake Shop of Danbury.
She was predeceased by her late husband, Yves J. Fortin of Danbury, with whom she maintained a beautiful relationship.
Vera is survived by her loving son Pierre Fortin and his wife Colleen of Arizona; her best friend and daughter, Michelle Dowling of Naugatuck; her loving companion and soulmate of thirty five years, George E. Johnson of Danbury; granddaughters Jacqueline Fortin Be- lander and her husband James of Arizona; Candice Coppola Kistoo and her husband Jason of Barbados; grandsons Gregory, Alexander and Nicholas Perricone; her great grandson Liam; her previous husband and good friend Robert Grieve and
his wife, Florence of Newtown; a brother Joseph Stevens and twin sister Mildred Stevens both of Pleasant Valley, NY and several cousins, friends, nieces and nephews. She is also missed by her spunky Shih Tzu puppies Angelique and Ladybug, who brought her great comfort and a rejuvenated sense of purpose in her later years.
Vera is also remembered by her lifelong best friend, Karin Aurelia and Karin’s daughters who became Vera’s “daughters” by choice: Debbie, Wendy and Susan.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in at St. Peter Church, 121 Main St., Danbury. There will be no calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, Vera asked that you remember her in the following ways: pick up the telephone and call your mother and grandmother, make family the center of your life, and when in doubt, buy the shoes— Vera thinks you deserve them. She also asked that you kindly make a donation to your local pet rescue organization.
Jowdy-Kane Funeral Home, 9-ll Granville Ave., Danbury is in charge of arrangements.