Date of Birth:
Tuesday, January 21, 1941
Date of Death:
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Age:
80 years old

Judith Lynne Granander

Judith Lynne Granander of Rochester, MN, joined her beloved husband, James, Tuesday, March 2, 2021.

Lynne was born January 21, 1941 in Los Angeles, CA, the daughter of Oras and Irene Kanerva. She was raised on a farm in Zim, MN, and loved animals. She had a life-long passion for music, including directing Sweet Adelines and other choirs, and founder of multiple hand bell choirs. She provided decades of musical ministries throughout many Rochester congregations. She enjoyed the finer things in life, including food, dance, music, and the arts. She was the founder and sole proprietor of Rochester Academy of Performing Arts (RAPA) from 1986 – 2001. She pioneered a fun, new method to teach musical theory to children, making it enjoyable and memorable for all. She taught music for her entire life. Lynne had a love for people that was larger than life. She was united in marriage to the love of her life, James Granander, in 1973, and together they raised 2 children. They enjoyed going on drives, going to bible study together at Church of The Resurrection Catholic Church, and both loved their animals.

She is survived by her children: Joan Margaret Granander (aka Shekinah Samaya-Thomas) and her spouse Christopher Thomas of Oakland, CA, and Jason Granander and his spouse Jill Granander of Stewartville, MN; grandson, David Davidson, and great-granddaughter, Kylie Davidson of Rochester, MN;  cousins, Julianne and Mark Maki of Walnut, CA; and many nieces, and nephews around the country. She will be missed dearly.

She is preceded in death by husband, James, parents, and brother, Jerry Kanerva.

Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will held Friday, March 5, 2021 at 10:30 AM at Church of The Resurrection in Rochester, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be held at a later date at Forest Hill Cemetery in Owatonna, MN.