Obituary for Carol Joan Grant-Holmes
Dr. Carol Grant-Holmes, age 75, of Mount Laurel NJ, died on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, at Horacio Odubar Hospital in Oranjestad, Aruba, after a sudden but brief illness.
Born in Riverside, NJ, on New Year’s Day 1947, Carol Joan Grant was the first baby of the year at Zurbrugg Memorial Hospital and would continue to be a leader throughout her life.
A graduate of Rancocas Valley Regional High School who was a gifted seamstress and active in band and 4-H Club, Carol was a Betty Crocker All-American Homemaker of Tomorrow Award winner, earning a scholarship to the University of Delaware, where she would complete a BS in home economics, the first of a remarkable six academic degrees. Future educational achievements included becoming a registered nurse, and receiving a BSN from Graceland University, an MBA from Eastern University, an M.Ed. from Drexel University, and both Master and Doctor of Education degrees from Temple University.
She spent her entire career in education, touching the lives of students, fellow teachers, and educational administrators at all levels of schooling. In her early career, she worked in higher education at Delaware County Community College and for the State Department of Education in Trenton, New Jersey. In the secondary realm, she was a teacher, program coordinator, principal, educational administrator, and assistant superintendent. Highland Regional High School, Triton Regional High School, and Moorestown School District are among the educational institutions that benefitted from her leadership and professionalism. Even in semi-retirement, she spent the past decade successfully leading the New Pathways to Teaching Program for Burlington County College (now Rowan College at Burlington County), launching the teaching careers of thousands of educators.
As a single mom who worked exceptionally hard to provide for her two boys, Carol continued to practice as a visiting nurse on nights, weekends, and holidays, for much of her career. She enjoyed most her time spent on the neonatal ward caring for newborns.
In her free time, Carol enjoyed nothing more than traveling the world with the love of her life, Bruce, whom she married on January 1, 2000. Their decades of adventures took them to nearly every continent. She spent her final days doing what she loved – cruising the seas with her beloved husband.
But of all her roles, the one that suited and delighted her most was that of adoring “Duda” to her eight grandchildren, who equally cherished their time with her. Their hearts grew strong because of her capacious love and affection.
Carol is survived by her devoted husband of 22 years, Bruce Holmes, children Grant Bronk (Candice) of Mount Laurel, NJ, and Bart Bronk (Christine) of Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, stepchildren Katie Holmes (Christine Ryan) of Cary, NC, and Jeffrey Holmes (Amy) of Greensboro, NC, grandchildren Tia, Natalya, Nick, Eli, Emilia, Charles, Aidan, and Taylor, and many other relatives and dear friends. She was predeceased by her parents, Joseph E. and Florence W. Grant, and her stepdaughter Beth Holmes.
At the request of the family, services will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Carol’s memory can be made to a charity of your choosing.
Born in Riverside, NJ, on New Year’s Day 1947, Carol Joan Grant was the first baby of the year at Zurbrugg Memorial Hospital and would continue to be a leader throughout her life.
A graduate of Rancocas Valley Regional High School who was a gifted seamstress and active in band and 4-H Club, Carol was a Betty Crocker All-American Homemaker of Tomorrow Award winner, earning a scholarship to the University of Delaware, where she would complete a BS in home economics, the first of a remarkable six academic degrees. Future educational achievements included becoming a registered nurse, and receiving a BSN from Graceland University, an MBA from Eastern University, an M.Ed. from Drexel University, and both Master and Doctor of Education degrees from Temple University.
She spent her entire career in education, touching the lives of students, fellow teachers, and educational administrators at all levels of schooling. In her early career, she worked in higher education at Delaware County Community College and for the State Department of Education in Trenton, New Jersey. In the secondary realm, she was a teacher, program coordinator, principal, educational administrator, and assistant superintendent. Highland Regional High School, Triton Regional High School, and Moorestown School District are among the educational institutions that benefitted from her leadership and professionalism. Even in semi-retirement, she spent the past decade successfully leading the New Pathways to Teaching Program for Burlington County College (now Rowan College at Burlington County), launching the teaching careers of thousands of educators.
As a single mom who worked exceptionally hard to provide for her two boys, Carol continued to practice as a visiting nurse on nights, weekends, and holidays, for much of her career. She enjoyed most her time spent on the neonatal ward caring for newborns.
In her free time, Carol enjoyed nothing more than traveling the world with the love of her life, Bruce, whom she married on January 1, 2000. Their decades of adventures took them to nearly every continent. She spent her final days doing what she loved – cruising the seas with her beloved husband.
But of all her roles, the one that suited and delighted her most was that of adoring “Duda” to her eight grandchildren, who equally cherished their time with her. Their hearts grew strong because of her capacious love and affection.
Carol is survived by her devoted husband of 22 years, Bruce Holmes, children Grant Bronk (Candice) of Mount Laurel, NJ, and Bart Bronk (Christine) of Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, stepchildren Katie Holmes (Christine Ryan) of Cary, NC, and Jeffrey Holmes (Amy) of Greensboro, NC, grandchildren Tia, Natalya, Nick, Eli, Emilia, Charles, Aidan, and Taylor, and many other relatives and dear friends. She was predeceased by her parents, Joseph E. and Florence W. Grant, and her stepdaughter Beth Holmes.
At the request of the family, services will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Carol’s memory can be made to a charity of your choosing.