VIRGINIA MARY GRAN

March 26, 1923 - September 18, 2015

Virginia Mary Gran of Caledonia passed peacefully of natural causes to be with her Savior Jesus Christ on Friday September 18, 2015 at Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield. With her son Dan holding her hand and saying goodbye, she left this life for home. She was born March 26, 1923 in Caledonia to Michael and Anna (McGinnis) Hoffman. She is the youngest of 4 children, preceded in death by her sisters Belva, and Helen (LaVonne), and one brother, William, who passed away from polio in high school. She lived in Caledonia most of her life, attended St. Mary’s Grade School, graduated from Loretto High School, completed secretarial studies in Winona and moved to Minot, ND where she worked as secretary for the National Boy Scout office. After returning to Caledonia, she married Leo Gran at St. John’s Catholic Church on June 14, 1958. She worked as bookkeeper with her new husband, the proprietor of Gran Standard Service in Caledonia. After the birth of their son Dan, she spent the rest of her life as a homemaker. She took great joy in keeping the home with a love for cooking, and gardening. She appreciated God’s simple creations, always enjoying birds and flowers. She continued a rock solid unwavering Christian faith throughout her life as a member of St. John’s Catholic Church until its closing, then St. Mary’s Catholic Church. She was a member of Catholic Daughters of America and CCW. She is survived by her son Dan of Preston, her nephew, Frank (the late Sharon) Ellenz of Maquoketa, IA, her niece Ann (Don) Burgoyne of Northfield, her nephew Bill (Donna) Pope of Bloomington, as well as 11 great nieces and nephews. After Leo’s early death from cancer on December 1, 1977, Virginia moved to Golden Age Estates, living independently until health issues moved her to Caledonia Care and Rehab in 2010. She moved to Park Lane Assisted Living in Preston in 2011 to be closer to her son, and eventually to Chosen Valley Care Center. She touched the lives of many, many people with her kindness and no one had ever left her home or room without hearing “God Bless”. If you ever met her, you know she is praying for you! Her later years were filled with many Sunday rides, trips to Mass, picnics, and visits to friends in Caledonia and Preston, always bringing home new memories and new fresh flowers. “Well done, my good and faithful servant!” A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 am, Friday, Sept 25, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 503 S. Pine St., Caledonia. Father Matt Fasnacht will officiate and burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Caledonia. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 pm on Thurs. at McCormick Funeral Home, 205 E. Main St., Caledonia. Visitation will also be from 9:30-10:30 am Friday morning before the service at the church.