Ann Carew Grant

Ann was the middle child of seven to John F (Jack) and June (Evans) Carew.  She attended Holy Angels Catholic Grade School and Rosary High School in Aurora, Illinois where she was born and raised.  Ann lived in Illinois all her life until moving to Aiken.  She loved the corn fields, the flat prairies, the red barns, and the fall trees of her native state.

She received a BA in Education from St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa and a Masters degree from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, Illinois.  Ann spent thirty years working with primary age children—first as a classroom teacher with the Dominican Sister of Springfield, Illinois; then as a lay person she worked as a director of Religious Education in Dixon, I Illinois and finally she worked as a director of two library media centers in the Byron Illinois Unit School District. In 2000, she retired and moved to Aiken, South Carolina where she lived for 23 years.  

Ann loved people, especially her family and friends.  Music was important to her all during her life. She enjoyed writing poetry and Christian songs.  Her personal relationship with Jesus Christ and her Catholic faith were gifts that guided and strengthened her.  They were both guarded carefully and treasured with gratitude.

Competitive by nature, a game of cards or Mah Jongg brought her a great pleasure and a win was even sweeter.  In 2013, when Ann was diagnosed with Lymphoma, one of her nephews told her that he had no doubt that she would beat cancer too.

One of her life mantras was “less is more.” Her needs were simple and she didn’t depend on things to bring her happiness.  One of her favorite scripture quotes, which she set to music, was from Micah 6:8 “this is what Yahweh asks of you; only this, to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God.”

Ann was an active member of St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church.   She is survived by her husband of 27 years Richard Grant, her brother Thomas Carew (Kim) of Aurora, Illinois and her sister, Sr. Therese Carew of Frankfort, Illinois.