Marie S. Grant

Marie S. Grant, 78, of Zelienople passed away on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, at home.

Born April 9, 1942, in Ellwood City, she was the daughter of the late Russell Schweingruber and Dorothy Turner Schweingruber.

Marie was the fifth of seven siblings. She grew up on a farm, later moving to Zelienople. She was a 1960 graduate of Zelienople High School.

Education was very important to her and to the entire Schweingruber family. She earned a B.S.S. from Penn State and an M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology from Central State University in Edmond, Okla. She then received a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Penn State.

She worked for many years at the VA with an interest in the treatment of substance abuse. After moving to Zelienople from Pottstown, Pa., she set up her own private practice, where she worked until her passing. She felt great purpose in her work and was grateful to have found her calling in counseling.

She married her best friend and life partner, Tom Grant, in 1993. Along with her husband, Tom, Marie traveled to over 50 countries and all seven continents, with a desire to have a better understanding of the world and to share knowledge and peace with others. Together, they hosted meet-and-greets for local and national political candidates, hosted several international exchange students, and were champions for Rotary International’s Shelter Box and End Polio Now campaigns.

Marie and Tom were both Paul Harris Society members, and were Rotarians of the Year in 2016-2017 and 2019-2020.

Each year, Marie baked hundreds of cookies with her sister, daughter and grandchildren, and she delighted in sharing them with loved ones near and far. She also hosted an annual international dinner with her family, which embodied her love of cooking, family and traveling.

Marie is deeply loved by so many and will be remembered for her gentle wisdom and tenacious spirit.

Marie leaves behind her son, James (Debbie) Harr of Edmond, Okla.; her daughter, Robin (John) Gurklis of Pittsburgh; her grandchildren, Alyssa (Colin), John Michael and Eric Gurklis; her siblings, Patricia (Tom) Platt of West Chester, Pa., Sally (Jack) Trump of Womelsdorf, Pa., and Jerry (Judy) Schweingruber of Lebanon, Pa.; and her sisters-in-law, Nancy Schweingruber of Bluffton, Ohio, and Charlynn Schweingruber of Evanston, Ill.

She also leaves 15 nieces and nephews and their families.

In addition to her parents, Marie was preceded in death by Tom Grant; and her brothers, David (Marie), Frank and Don.

GRANT — Arrangements for Marie S. Grant, who died Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, have been entrusted to Boylan Funeral Home, 324 E. Grandview Ave., Zelienople.

A memorial service for Marie and Tom will be planned whenever it is safe to gather.

Memorial donations may be made in Marie’s honor to Rotary International End Polio Now at rotary.org or shelterboxusa.org.

Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.boylanfuneralservices.com.