Margaret Nunn Grossetta's Obituary
Margaret Nunn Grossetta went to be with her Lord on September 10, 2012. Margaret was the sweetheart, companion, best friend and partner of her Warren for over 63 years. She was the loving mother of Linda Grossetta (Gary) Renfro and Warren Anthony (Janet) Grossetta; the grandmother of Marla Renfro, Lance (Melissa) Renfro, Amy and Simone Grossetta and Rene (Leo)Connelly and the great grandmother of Shavonne Renfro Cox, Lance, Brian, John, Andrew and Daniel Renfro, Charlotte and James Connelly. Margaret was born in Greenmount, Western Australia and grew up in Nedlands in a suburb of Perth. During WWII she trained at Children's Hospital and became a pediatric nurse. In November 1943 she was introduced to Warren Grossetta who had just reported aboard USS Cabrilla, a submarine which was based in Fremantle. Thereafter whenever Warren was in port between War Patrols they were together. In September 1944 Margaret and Warren became engaged. A couple of weeks later Cabrilla sailed from Fremantle and was gone from Australia until August 1945. Ten days after Cabrilla returned to the Perth area Margaret and Warren were married. Two days later World War II ended and after a two week honeymoon Warren was now on another submarine and it departed Fremantle never to return. It was eight months later when Margaret finally was offered passage with many other Australian War Brides and their babies on the U.S. Army troop ship Fred C. Ainsworth which would take them to San Francisco. Shortly after boarding a measles epidemic broke out and Margaret was recruited to help with nursing. Fortunately for the relative newly wed Grossettas the Fred C made a short stop in Honolulu and the submarine in which Warren was serving was now based in Pearl Harbor. While the Fred C Ainsworth was lying in the Honolulu Harbor Mrs. Grossetta was told unexpectedly that she would be leaving the ship in 5 minutes. After scurrying around to pack and to change out of her nurse's uniform she went down a rope ladder along the side of the ship and into a small boat which took her to the pier where Warren was waiting. From that beginning and for the next 23 years Margaret was a true and wonderful Navy Wife making a home for and raising her family in many places frequently without the help of her husband who was frequently away at sea. In 1969 much against her wishes, Margaret followed Warren to his hometown of Tucson to make a retirement home for him and their family. Within a very short time she became active in the Assistance League of Tucson and settled into a life far away from salt water. In no time she had fallen in love with Tucson and no longer wanted to live any other place. A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, December 27, 2012, 2:00 PM at St. Alban's Episcopal Church, 3738 N. Old Sabino Canyon Rd, Tucson. Following services, a reception will be held at Tucson Country Club. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Evercare Hospice or to the charity of your choice. Arrangements by EVERGREEN MORTUARY & CEMETERY.
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