BRUNSWICK – On Wednesday, May 19, 2021, Hilda Jane (Grant) Jones died peacefully at home with her family around her. She was born in 1944 in Brunswick to Alden H. Grant, Sr., and Louise C. Grant (nee Gould). She grew up in Falmouth, Leeds, and Freeport, Maine.

Under her father’s tutelage, she became an accomplished vocalist. In high school, she sang with the Portland Symphony Orchestra and the Maine All-State Music Choir and performed in the musical Head and Shoulders at Bowdoin College.

Hilda studied theater at the University of Maine and acted in several Maine Masque performances, including as Curley’s Wife in Of Mice and Men. There she also met Richard N. Jones, who became her life partner and father to her three daughters.

Hilda used her talents at work and for her community. As Assistant Communications Director at the Maine Education Association, she and her BFF, Keith Harvie, won multiple national awards for their newsletter, The Maine Educator. Her poetry appeared in local publications, and she wrote essays advocating for issues she cared about. She also appeared in several community theater productions.

Hilda lived in many places during her life, but her home was Maine. Over four decades, she renovated a series of houses into showplace homes. Once she finished a house, she was restless to start something new. Her final accomplishment, undertaken over the last year of her life, realized a dream. She built a cottage with her son-in-law and daughter that, in a small space, contained everything most important to her: her beloved books, the art and antiques she treasured, radiant sunshine, and a view of her bird feeders. Having created perfection, she moved on.

She is survived by her daughters, Hannah and her husband Damien, Maggie and her husband Karl, and Gwyneth and her husband Dave; her brothers, Alden Jr. and his wife Jane, William and his wife Barbara, and Lewis and his husband Jim; grandchildren Skye, Robbie, and Lennox; many nieces, nephews, cousins; and dear friends. She joins her beloved parents and her dearest friend and kindred spirit, her sister Lillian.

For details on the memorial service and to provide an online tribute, please visit http://www.standfast.info.

Donations in Hilda’s memory may be made to:

the Good Shepherd Food Bank in Portland

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