Rosalie A. Grenon

Rosalie A. Grenon, 82, of Sutton, passed away peacefully on January 14, 2022 at the Jewish Healthcare Hospice in Worcester.

She was born in Worcester, MA to the late H. Louis Rocheleau and Anna (Johnson) Rocheleau on February 16, 1939.  She grew up in Millbury with her two sisters and one brother and lived most of her life in Millbury and Sutton.   Rosalie went to Assumption School in Millbury and was a long-time parishioner at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish.  She graduated from Maria Assumpta Academy in Petersham in 1956 and received a music degree from Anna Maria College in Paxton in 1960. 

She was married to and is survived by David R. Grenon. She met the love of her life when she was 15 years old, and they were married for 61 years.  Rosalie is survived by five children:  Nannette Henderson and her husband Brian of Fairfax Station, VA, Gerri Lorusso of Shrewsbury, MA, Laura Williams and her husband Devin of Columbia, MD, Michael Grenon and his wife Brittany of Northborough, MA, and Raymond Grenon and his wife Betsy of Newport, RI.  Rosalie is also survived by her sister, Andree Belisle and spouse Alex, of Millbury, MA. She was predeceased by her brother, H. Louis Rocheleau, Jr. and another sister, Louanne Stockwell. Last, but certainly not least, she is also survived by 13 grandchildren (Kelsey Henderson, Emma Henderson, Paige Henderson, Grace Henderson, Dr. Anthony Lorusso, Jr., Lea Jarrell, Rebecca Lorusso, Francesca Lorusso, Ian Williams, Jocelin Williams, Alexandria Grenon, Danielle Grenon, and Courtney Grenon), 4 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. 

While she was a music major and extremely talented singer who sang opera in college, she enjoyed many types of music, but favored classical.  However, she will likely be most remembered by her children for her love of Barry Manilow’s music. 

She was an artist, skilled in painting, drawing and photography.  Her artistic skills were often called upon for church and school fundraisers and events.  While she enjoyed drawing and painting people and buildings, Rosalie loved taking photographs of family (especially grandchildren), birds, flowers and sunsets.  Many of those sunsets were captured while on the walks she enjoyed in Newport, RI.  Her well planned and meticulously self-groomed gardens provided much enjoyment, as well as many photo opportunities.

She served on the Advisory Board of the Joy of Music in Worcester for a number of years, as well as the Advisory Board for the Performing Arts School of Worcester, the Scholarship Committee for the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, and she was a corporator for Catholic Charities of Worcester. 

She was a dedicated homemaker who enjoyed keeping an immaculate house, had an excellent eye for interior design, and actually enjoyed doing laundry.  One of her favorite things to do to relax at the end of the day was sit in front of the TV in her rocking chair with a bag of candy—with longtime favorites being Twizzlers and Good & Plenty.

Her favorite role was probably that of “Grammy” to her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She especially loved babies, and if she wasn’t rocking them to sleep with her magic touch, she enjoyed getting right down on the floor and playing with her grandchildren whenever she could be with them.

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, January 18th from 4-7 PM at MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St., Worcester. A funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, January 19^th at 10:30 AM in St. Mark’s Church in Sutton.  At the request of the family and as a City of Worcester mandate, masks will be required at all the services for Rosalie.

The Grenon family would like to extend gratitude to the staff in the Keepsake unit at Eisenberg Assisted Living and the Jewish Healthcare Hospice staff for the exceptional care they provided to Rosalie. 

As much as she loved flowers, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, people make donations to: St. Mark’s Church, 356 Boston Road, Sutton, MA 01590, www.saintmarksparish.org/giving or to the Jewish Healthcare Center, 629 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609, www.jhccenter.org/make-a-donation.