Florene Chicky Grano (Mayette)

Florene ""Chicky"" (Mayette) Grano, 69, of East Hartford, was peacefully called to be with her family and friends in Heaven on Tuesday (August 24, 2010) at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford. Born in Vermont on October 6, 1940, daughter of the late Walter Mayette and the late Glenna (Brown) Thomas, she has been a resident of East Hartford for the past forty-two years. Chicky was a graduate of Bulkeley High School in Hartford and was employed for many years by the former ARGO Industries in Berlin. Chicky was a former Miss Connecticut World and a former Miss Vermont Universe both in 1961. She loved watching birds and was a loyal fan of the UCONN Women's Basketball team. Chicky was proud to be part of the Grano family and loved camping with many special friends at Holly Tree Campground in Rhode Island as well as spending many summers with her family at Sound View beach in Old Lyme. Most of all, Chicky was a proud mother and grandmother whose main passion in life was nurturing and caring for children-her door was always open. Her class, elegance & grace, along with her ""one-liners"", will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Besides her beloved parents, she was predeceased by a sister, Patricia Carey of Hartford, a brother, Butch Mayette of Hartford, and her partner, Melvin Boughton of East Hartford, and her dear friends, Dorothy Sipala and Carol Tremblay. Florene is survived by her two caring children, daughter, Stefanee Freeman of East Hartford and son, Steven A. Grano of East Hartford; four adored grandchildren, Rachel Freeman, Dean Grano, Sebastian Grano, and Samantha Zuidema. She also leaves her brother, Ron Mayette and his wife, Thea, of Rocky Hill; a special sister-in-law, Janice Diorio in FL; two special nieces who were also daughters to her, Lori Davis and her husband, Leon, of Newington and Kelly Zuidema and her husband, Brian, of East Hartford; her former husband and friend, Roger J. Grano of Wethersfield; many nieces and nephews, and her dear friend, Ellie Reardon of Manchester. Funeral services will be Saturday (August 28th) at 9:15 am from the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10:30 am at St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church, 285 Church Street, Hartford. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home chapel on Friday (August 27th) from 4-7 pm. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopo.com.