Francine T. Grant died peacefully in her sleep on the 19th of September, 2024. She was 81 years old.
She was born in Lewiston, Maine on August 25th to Barbara and Roland Pelletier. She attended parochial schools and graduated from Mt. Merici High School in 1961.
Immediately following graduation, Francine spread her wings, leaving the family home to work as a waitress in Ogunquit, Maine. She often reminisced about the movie stars and vacationers who frequented the area during the summer.
She married at age 21 and in December of 1965, gave birth to her beloved daughter Maureen. Shortly thereafter, her mother Barbara moved in with them and filled her home with continual joy. Francine was working at the telephone company at the time, where she quickly moved up the ranks. Always the go-getter and born with an entrepreneurial spirit, she began “picking” for local antique dealer, Peter Borroughs to earn extra money to support her family.
“Picking” had an unintended consequence; not only did she enjoy the thrill of the hunt, but she fell in love with the multi-faceted world of antiques. She was a quick study and continued to grow and learn under the tutelage of many dealers and auctioneers. She loved the extra cash but truly loved “the old stuff”.
After her divorce, she took a sales job with Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Portland, Maine. As a professional woman in the 1970’s, she excelled at selling insurance but found true joy moonlighting in the antiques business. After being transferred to Augusta, Maine, she met the love of her life, Benjie Grant. They married in April of 1977 and lived together happily for 47 years.
Located in Holden, Maine, she opened the first of three antique shops out of a little out-building and named it “1802 House Antiques”. It is lovingly remembered as “The little shop that could”. Out of her first shop she, along with a few close friends, would refinish furniture and sell it. She quickly built a successful enterprise and a stellar reputation. Outgrowing her original location, she and Benjie bought the old Pinkham Country Store and refurbished it for her second location; “Country Store Antiques”. Many tourists and friends alike loved to come “hang out” at the shop and shoot the breeze over coffee. Though the location provided ample space to refinish furniture downstairs, she was outgrowing the sales floor footprint.
In 2000, she and Benjie built a beautiful building in Holden that provided the space she needed to significantly grow her cherished antiquing enterprise; “Mid-Coast Fine Antiques”. She never lost her love for the business, the thrill of the hunt, the auctions, free appraisal days, and in the last few years of her life, mentoring her son in law, Bill. Passing on her 60+ years of expertise to Bill brought her great joy.
Her friends and family knew her as the kindest, most generous person who helped countless people get back on their feet; some of whom even lived with she and Benjie until they were able to make it on their own. The most humble person you’d ever meet, she wore the same style outfit for 40 years. She never left the house without her signature bangle bracelets and funky eyeglass lanyard.
When she wasn’t honing her craft, or giving of herself to those she loved, she enjoyed watching TV westerns such as “Gunsmoke” and “The Virginian” and was addicted to watching online shows about antiquing, as well as cooking shows. She loved a good game of spades and taking rides with Benjie to enjoy the scenic beauty of coastal Maine.
As fulfilling as her passions and her pursuits were, the dedication and commitment to her family and friends was her top priority.
She is survived by her loving husband, Benjie Grant of Holden, her only daughter, Maureen Vasquez of Carolina Beach, NC (husband Bill Vasquez) and the light of her life, granddaughter Allie Belanger of Braintree, MA. She also leaves behind her life long friend, Dian Gray of Clifton, ME.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to “25 Days of Kindness” and sent to the Holden Town Office located at 570 Main Road, Holden, ME 04429. This non-profit was started by former Holden Police Chief Greeley, assisting Holden residents in need for the 25 days leading up to Christmas.
Please join us as we celebrate Francine’s life from 4pm to 7pm on Friday, September 27th at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, located at 163 Center Street in Bangor, Maine.
Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Francine Grant, please visit our flower store.
She was born in Lewiston, Maine on August 25th to Barbara and Roland Pelletier. She attended parochial schools and graduated from Mt. Merici High School in 1961.
Immediately following graduation, Francine spread her wings, leaving the family home to work as a waitress in Ogunquit, Maine. She often reminisced about the movie stars and vacationers who frequented the area during the summer.
She married at age 21 and in December of 1965, gave birth to her beloved daughter Maureen. Shortly thereafter, her mother Barbara moved in with them and filled her home with continual joy. Francine was working at the telephone company at the time, where she quickly moved up the ranks. Always the go-getter and born with an entrepreneurial spirit, she began “picking” for local antique dealer, Peter Borroughs to earn extra money to support her family.
“Picking” had an unintended consequence; not only did she enjoy the thrill of the hunt, but she fell in love with the multi-faceted world of antiques. She was a quick study and continued to grow and learn under the tutelage of many dealers and auctioneers. She loved the extra cash but truly loved “the old stuff”.
After her divorce, she took a sales job with Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Portland, Maine. As a professional woman in the 1970’s, she excelled at selling insurance but found true joy moonlighting in the antiques business. After being transferred to Augusta, Maine, she met the love of her life, Benjie Grant. They married in April of 1977 and lived together happily for 47 years.
Located in Holden, Maine, she opened the first of three antique shops out of a little out-building and named it “1802 House Antiques”. It is lovingly remembered as “The little shop that could”. Out of her first shop she, along with a few close friends, would refinish furniture and sell it. She quickly built a successful enterprise and a stellar reputation. Outgrowing her original location, she and Benjie bought the old Pinkham Country Store and refurbished it for her second location; “Country Store Antiques”. Many tourists and friends alike loved to come “hang out” at the shop and shoot the breeze over coffee. Though the location provided ample space to refinish furniture downstairs, she was outgrowing the sales floor footprint.
In 2000, she and Benjie built a beautiful building in Holden that provided the space she needed to significantly grow her cherished antiquing enterprise; “Mid-Coast Fine Antiques”. She never lost her love for the business, the thrill of the hunt, the auctions, free appraisal days, and in the last few years of her life, mentoring her son in law, Bill. Passing on her 60+ years of expertise to Bill brought her great joy.
Her friends and family knew her as the kindest, most generous person who helped countless people get back on their feet; some of whom even lived with she and Benjie until they were able to make it on their own. The most humble person you’d ever meet, she wore the same style outfit for 40 years. She never left the house without her signature bangle bracelets and funky eyeglass lanyard.
When she wasn’t honing her craft, or giving of herself to those she loved, she enjoyed watching TV westerns such as “Gunsmoke” and “The Virginian” and was addicted to watching online shows about antiquing, as well as cooking shows. She loved a good game of spades and taking rides with Benjie to enjoy the scenic beauty of coastal Maine.
As fulfilling as her passions and her pursuits were, the dedication and commitment to her family and friends was her top priority.
She is survived by her loving husband, Benjie Grant of Holden, her only daughter, Maureen Vasquez of Carolina Beach, NC (husband Bill Vasquez) and the light of her life, granddaughter Allie Belanger of Braintree, MA. She also leaves behind her life long friend, Dian Gray of Clifton, ME.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to “25 Days of Kindness” and sent to the Holden Town Office located at 570 Main Road, Holden, ME 04429. This non-profit was started by former Holden Police Chief Greeley, assisting Holden residents in need for the 25 days leading up to Christmas.
Please join us as we celebrate Francine’s life from 4pm to 7pm on Friday, September 27th at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, located at 163 Center Street in Bangor, Maine.
Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.
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