Nancy Alicia Gillies Grandel, 91, of Branford, died peacefully on New Year’s Day. She was the beloved wife of Frank R. Grandel. She was born Dec. 15, 1919 in New Haven, daughter of the late James A. Gillies and Mae A. Sweeney Gillies, formerly of New Haven. Nancy graduated from Miss Day’s School (now Hopkins) and received her MFA from the Yale School of Art and Architecture in 1943.

During World War II, Nancy travelled the country, painting murals for the USO.  She had been a vice president of the family business, The Bath Box Company in Bath, Maine, which made wooden boxes for the war effort. In addition, she had been president of the Park Avenue Corporation and was an officer and director of the Gillies Lumber Company. Nancy was elected to Who’s Who of American Women, Who’s Who in Finance and Industry, and Who’s Who in the East.  She was also included in the Two Thousand Women of Achievement and the World Who’s Who of Women.

Nancy was a consummate cook and talented gardener.  She loved to swim in Long Island Sound in Pine Orchard and could often be found in the water from Memorial Day until Halloween. She had a long and intimate history with the beach at the end of her street and had experienced first-hand the great hurricane of 1938. She was a woman of abundant energy and independent spirit, and she possessed a wonderful sense of humor.  She loved people of all walks of life and gave freely and generously to those she knew.  Most of all, she loved her family and her dogs and was a great source of strength for her loved ones to the very end of her life.

Nancy had been a member of the Pine Orchard Yacht & Country Club since the 1920s and was a former member of the Branford Garden Club, the New Haven Country Club, the New Haven Lawn Club, and the Paint and Clay Club of New Haven.  

Besides her husband, she is survived by her children, Suzanne Griffin of Branford, Victoria Blake of Clinton, Margaret Alexandra (Mallie) Cohen of Middlebury, and Gayle Grandel (Gigi) Hayden of Branford.  She is also survived by her grandchildren, Griffin Leangle, Alecia and Anthony Massaro, and Henry and James Hayden.

Burial will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 4, at St Mary’s Cemetery in Hamden at 11:30 a.m.  A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held on Saturday, Jan. 22, at 3 p.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church on the Green in New Haven.  In lieu of flowers, contributions in her name may be made to the Trinity Choir of Men and Boys, Trinity Church, 129 Church St., New Haven, CT 06510. The W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, Branford, is in charge of arrangements. See online memorial @ www.wsclancy.com.