With great sadness our family announces the peaceful passing of our mother and dear Popo, Gretta Jean Grant (nee Wong) on Saturday February 24, 2024, in her 103rd year. Born in London, Ontario to Lem and Toye Chin Wong, Gretta was the seventh of eight children. She was predeceased by siblings Victor, Mary Mark, Clara Lee, Norman, George, William and Esther Yamada, and is survived by her sister-in-law, Frances Wong.
After graduating from The University of Western Ontario, Gretta went on to study Law at Osgoode Hall. In her first year, the six women in her class formed the Osgoode Women’s Legal Society, the “OWLS”. In later years Gretta recounted how the OWLS challenged gender discrimination at Osgoode by protesting and picketing events from which female students were excluded, afterward reminiscing, “We had a lot of fun together”. Gretta’s sense of justice (and fun) would play a large part in how she lived her life.
Gretta became the first Chinese-Canadian woman to be called to the bar. She practiced in London, served as Assistant City Solicitor and was among the first generation of Legal Aid directors in Ontario, pioneering the province’s Legal Aid program. She was the first Area Director of Legal Aid for London and later held this position for Stratford and Woodstock as well. In 1969 Gretta was appointed Queen’s Counsel (QC). Later, she became the first woman President of the Middlesex Bar Association, and in 2000 was the recipient of the Law Society Medal, given by the Law Society of Ontario for outstanding service within the profession in accordance with the highest ideals of the legal profession. Gretta also served her community in various ways, including as Chair of the City of London’s Race Relations Committee, as a board member of the Chinese Canadian National Council, London Chapter and as Chair of the Board of Governors of Fanshawe College.
While a law student, Gretta met her future husband, Alan Grant. They married in 1950 and began their life together in London where they practiced law and raised their family, passing along a love of sports as they had both enjoyed from childhood. Sadly, in 1967 Gretta was predeceased by Alan.
Throughout her life, Gretta prized family, friends and service to her community. She lived life to the fullest and had a sense of fun that stayed with her to her last days. She was fortunate to have been blessed with many good friends, including those with whom she shared good times over the last twenty years at the Cherryhill Coffee Club and the Cherryhill Mall.
Gretta is survived by her four children, Gretchen Salmon, George (Ko Bhamra), Jim (Bette Crnkovich) and Hugh (Denise Maharaj); five grandchildren, Jen Salmon, Kim McKay (Luke), Ryan Salmon (Sheri), Emily Grant (Montano Cabezas) and Rose Grant; three great-grandchildren, Maverick Salmon, Melehua Salmon and Isabel Cabezas; and cherished nieces, nephews and friends. The family would like to thank her excellent caregivers and friends at Oak Crossing Long-Term Care for taking care of Gretta these past seven weeks.
As was Gretta’s wish there will be no funeral service; a celebration of life will take place at a later date.