Vera G. Grieve, 75, of Danbury, died peacefully May 8, after a valiant fight with colon cancer, at the Regional Hospice and Palliative Care Center for Comfort Care and Healing, Danbury. Born in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., June 5, 1942, she was the daughter of the late George and Mildred (Lane) Stevens, and was raised in New Hamburg, N.Y. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, and friend.

Mrs Grieve was a realtor for Newtown Country Realty and had owned and operated Vera's Luncheonette in Newtown. In prior years, she worked in the luncheonette section of the former New York Bake Shop, Danbury.

Affectionately known as "mom" and "gram," Mrs Grieve was an avid shopper and reader; she could be found browsing the aisles of her favorite stores or tucked into her favorite chair reading a good romance novel. She will be best known for her impeccable sense of style, the ear she always lent to friends, her wonderful sense of wit, and how she lived her life with both grace and grit.

A resident of the area since 1959, Mrs Grieve was a former assistant manager of Chico's at the Danbury Fair Mall. She took great pride in her work and saw it as her calling to help women select clothing that made them feel beautiful. Her "Chico Girls" (as she called them) - beloved customers and colleagues - became devoted confidants and friends. She was ever so grateful for their friendship and the laughs, tears, and memories shared between them.

Her loving son, Pierre Fortin, and his wife, Colleen, of Arizona; her best friend and daughter, Michelle Dowling of Naugatuck; her loving companion and soulmate of 35 years, George E. Johnson of Danbury; her granddaughters, Jacqueline Fortin Belander and her husband, James, of Arizona; and Candice Coppola Kistoo and her husband, Jason, of Barbados; her grandsons, Gregory, Alexander, and Nicholas Perricone; one great-grandson; her previous husband and good friend, Robert Grieve, and his wife, Florence, of Newtown; a brother, Joseph Stevens; and twin sister, Mildred Stevens, both of Pleasant Valley, N.Y.; and several cousins, friends, nieces, and nephews survive her. She will also be missed by her spunky Shih Tzu puppies, who brought her great comfort and a rejuvenated sense of purpose in her later years, and many lifelong friends from Newtown.

Her late husband, Yves J. Fortin, with whom she maintained a beautiful relationship, predeceased her.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St Peter Church, Danbury, at a time to be announced in the future. There will be no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, Mrs Grieve asked that those who knew her remember her in the following ways: pick up the telephone and call your mother and grandmother, make family the center of your life, and when in doubt, buy the shoes - Mrs Grieve thinks you deserve them. She also asked that those who knew her kindly make a donation to a local pet rescue organization.

Jowdy-Kane Funeral Home, Danbury, is in charge of arrangements.