Obituary of Dr. Carmen Grange

July 1, 2022

LOVING WORDS OF REMEMBRANCE
July 4, 1922 – July 1, 2022

From an early age, Carmen “Kathleen” Grange possessed a remarkable sense of direction and determination. It led her down a path paved with opportunity, achievement, and blessings which she graciously shared with everyone she encountered.

Carmen, affectionately known as Kathleen, was born on July 4, 1922, in Colon, Panama to Jamaican parents who were working in the Canal Zone. Once her parents separated, she was sent to Jamaica where she was raised by her grandmother. Her grandmother, a midwife, often had Kathleen accompany her as she worked. This ignited her passion for medicine and a deep desire to care for others. But the pursuit of realizing her dreams was not an easy one.

Kathleen was confronted with societal obstacles to furthering her education but was not deterred. As a woman of color in the 50’s and 60’s, she faced great rejection and opposition to her career pursuit of becoming a physician. While attending college in Jamaica, she was unable to enroll in a pre-med program and was encouraged to pursue a career in social work instead. However, her unwavering perseverance led her across the world to obtain a medical degree from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. She felt welcomed and embraced by the people of Dublin, where race and gender were not disqualifying factors.

After returning to the U.S. to complete her residency, Kathleen started her own practice, opening an office in the heart of New York City’s bustling West Village community on West 13th Street. By practicing internal medicine in this diverse community, she was afforded the opportunity to care for people of different backgrounds and walks of life. This deepened her appreciation of caring for others regardless of their race or age. It also fueled her professional advancements which include serving as the medical director of Greenwich House, being affiliated with Beekman Downtown Hospital, and serving as attending physician Laconia Nursing Home.

Kathleen was a resident of the West Village for 58 years, a longtime member of the community’s St. John’s Church, and a highly regarded neighbor. She viewed herself as a contributor to the local community and an explorer of the global community. This led to extensive travel including exciting jaunts to China, Egypt, Denmark, France and various other European countries, often accompanied by family and friends.

Carmen did not have any children of her own. However, she was, in no small part, a “Mother to Many”. After her mother passed away, Kathleen and her sister Monica, shared the role of matriarch setting a standard of love and excellence for which they received family respect and admiration. Her legacy of love for her 16 nieces and nephews was demonstrated in word and deed. She generously provided financial support for their education and generously shared sage advice often by way of clever, humorous sayings that live on in their hearts and minds.

Beloved Kathleen was preceded in death by her father and mother, Leslie and Evelyn; her brother, Albert; her sisters, Sybil and Barbara; and her nephew, Donovan. She leaves to cherish her memory her sister, Monica; her nieces and nephews, Rhona, Albert, Jr., Janet, Leslie, Joy, Maxine, Marcia, Courtney, Carey, Greg, Patty, Tony, Ian, Detria, and Garth; and a host of great nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends, all of whom look forward to spending eternity with her in the earth made new.

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