Death of Helen Grant

Helen died on the 18th of November 2009 aged 76. Born in Huntly on 24th January 1933, Helen came to live at Pluscarden Priory Lodge in 1950, together with her parents and younger sister. Her father Donald was the Postman for the valley. After the death of her mother in 1963, Helen took over the running of the Lodge. For the next 30 years she welcomed countless guests of the monastery into her home, forming friendships which were to last a lifetime. Even when she was obliged to give up taking in guests because of her declining health, she continued to be a generous host to friends and callers. Despite increasing disabilities, she never lost her habitual cheerfulness, inspiring many people with her strong and simple faith. On Sunday 15th November she suffered a serious heart attack and was taken into Dr. Gray’s hospital in Elgin. She received the last sacraments with great devotion and died very peacefully just before midnight on Wednesday, surrounded by her friends. Her Requiem Mass and burial were at Pluscarden Abbey on Saturday 28th November 2009.