Ingeborg Grant

Ingeborg “Inge” Grant, 88, of Concord, died Nov. 9, 2023, at Havenwood Heritage Heights after a brief period of declining health.

Inge was born in Altenburg, Germany to Adolph Heinrich Kirsche and Herta Kirsche (Bouhon). An only child, her parents divorced when she was 4, and she grew up with mother’s family in Nüremburg Germany.  During WWII she was schooled in a convent to avoid the Hitler youth.

In her late teens Inge moved to London for an au pair position and then began studying nursing. In 1955 she met a junior physician named Colin Grant. Their long courtship became a series of transatlantic correspondences until they married in London in 1965, then sailed to America on the Queen Mary in a combined emigration and honeymoon. 

Inge and Colin were looking for something “new”. So they started in New York (Buffalo/Albany), then tried New Mexico (Albuquerque) and ended up in New Hampshire (in 1979). Inge devoted herself to her family then re-schooled for a successful nursing career, working at Elliot Hospital and Manchester’s Youth Development Center.  She was also a business woman, importing and promoting Frei Öl brand cosmetics from Germany. 

She loved her German heritage and sharing it with others. She was active with the NH Germanic association, helping organize German language classes and cultural events. She formed many close friendships there with other German enthusiasts and expatriates. Inge enjoyed writing German verse and poetry for friends and family to commemorate special occasions.

Inge formed lasting friendships wherever she went, and always found something to celebrate. She loved travel, experiencing new cultures, and visiting with long time friends from all over the world. She was an avid singer in several choirs throughout her life and once sang in Lincoln Center at the 10-year memorial tribute of 9/11. She proudly, after 50+ years, became a naturalized American citizen and enthusiastic voter.

She is predeceased by her parents, a paternal half-brother, Rainer Kirsche, and her ex husband Colin, she is survived by her sons, Keith Grant and William Grant, daughter-in-Law Rachel Panush-Grant, grandchildren, Lia and Etan Grant of Los Angeles, CA. her daughter Heidi Grant-Derian, son-in-law Albert Derian, grandsons Jack and Benjamin Derian of Gloucester, MA.

It was Inge’s wish that any memorial tributes be made in the form of charitable donations to FutureInSight.org (formerly the New Hampshire Association for the Blind).

For those unable to attend in person, Inge's service will be livestreamed at the link below:

https://Lambert-Funeral-Home-and-Crematory.livecontrol.tv/967d7220