Sister Elizabeth Thorne Grant

Sr. Elizabeth Thorne Grant, a member of The Society of the All Saints Sisters of the Poor for 56 years, died in her sleep on the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, September 8, 2021.  She was 92 years of age.

A direct descendent of Thomas Jefferson, Sr. Elizabeth was born in Saint Paul Minnesota on January 5, 1929 to Elizabeth and Dr. Hendrie Walter Grant, who was a distinguished ophthalmologist and surgeon.  She had one brother, John, who predeceased her by many years.

Her interest in acting led her to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois where she graduated with a degree in Theatre.  Following graduation, she worked for several years in New York City.  As a young woman, she backpacked across Europe by herself, which was uncommon at the time.  She was fluent in French and always read from a French Bible.  She was a mystic and wrote quite a bit of poetry.  She painted watercolor pictures of birds that were turned into stationary and offered for sale in our Card Shop.  She had a great love for our Community  pets over the years, but one became her great companion, a small Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Keisha.

Sr. Elizabeth served at St. Anna’s our home for retired women in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at St. Gabriel’s Home for Retarded Children and later at St. Gabriel’s Retreat House in Catonsville, Maryland.  She also served the Community as Refectorian and Guest Mistress.  She was often the Reader in refectory and at Mass for which her voice training served her well.  She loved to be outdoors and became an avid “grounds keeper” at both the Convent and St. Gabriel’s.  She worked her way around the property wearing her now famous old straw hat, work boots, and huge apron.

It should be noted that Sr. Elizabeth came into the Religious Life because she wanted to be poor and at that she succeeded.  She truly called nothing her own.

We will all be poorer without her.  May Sr. Elizabeth rest in peace and rise in glory.