Joan Marie (Gavis) Grenier

Joan (Gavis) Grenier, 76, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, August 11, 2023. She was born on March 4, 1947 and was predeceased by her husband Michael Grenier and their infant daughter Lisa Marie. Mike was born just a day earlier in the same hospital. Family lore holds that they shared time in the nursery in the maternity ward at St. Francis Hospital. They started going steady in junior high school and married soon after graduating from Manchester High School while Mike was serving in Vietnam.

Working together they established Village Floors in Manchester which they ran for many years until Mike’s untimely death in 1997. Joan was happiest when she was sitting on any beach with a glass of wine in hand and her toes in the sand, and if there was a hot tub nearby then the day was a success.

Lottery tickets were a source of excitement for her as she was the eternal optimist, always confident that the big win was just one scratch ticket away. Her many trips to Foxwoods and Mohegan casinos were legendary and she always shared the big news when she won.

Her passing leaves a huge void in her large extended family who will miss her every single day. She leaves her children, Melissa Grenier of Coventry and James Grenier of Vernon and their respective grand-dogs. She was predeceased by her siblings Valerie Gavis Fiano, Richard Gavis and Judy Gavis-Hall. She leaves her beloved nieces Lori Fiano Dumont and her husband Scott, Kim Fiano Cleary and her husband Tom, and her nephew Paul Fiano and his wife Vanessa and their families.

Joan carried on the family tradition of making pierogi with her sisters and nieces. It was a labor of love and all looked forward to getting a share of the bounty. Joan remained close to her mother-in-law and the Grenier family over the years and she (and her fabulous kielbasa!) will be missed by all her sisters-in-law, her brothers-in-law and all their families.

After her sister Valerie’s death, Joan stepped into the role of surrogate grandmother to her great nieces and nephews Hannah, Olivia, Christian, Ryan, Evan and Alyssa. It was a role she loved and in which she excelled. They shared every birthday and milestone in their lives with ‘Auntie Joan’ and she spoiled them and loved them with her whole being. She will forever hold a special place in their hearts and they will miss her always.

Later in life Joan found deep friendship and companionship with Ray Kovacik of Vernon. They enjoyed many happy hours together that included an epic annual tomato sauce making day and the simple joy of starting each day with an early morning walk. He brought her much joy in the last years of her life.

In accordance with Joan’s wishes, the family will receive friends on Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at Holmes-Watkins Funeral Home, 400 Main Street, Manchester, CT from 4:00-7:00 p.m. There will be a celebration of life on Thursday August 17, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at the Rockville Elks Lodge, 9 North Park Street, Rockville, CT. Her children suggest the best way to honor Joan’s lifetime of devotion to family and friends is with a memorial contribution in her name to American Lab Rescue, P.O. Box 215, Willington, CT 06279 or by visiting AmericanLabRescue.com or to The Rockville Elks Lodge, 9 North Park Street, Vernon, CT 06066 for the support of CT Children’s Medical Center. Include a note with Joan Grenier/CCMC with your donation. 

She loved and was loved. One cannot ask for more out of life.

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