Thérèse Grandy 1924-2011

Thérèse Grandy June 10, 1924 - October 20, 2011

Theri was born into a Zurich family. After graduating as a trilingual secretary, she worked for her father in a successful office equipment company, which she planned to take over after his retirement.

But in 1947 she encountered Moral Re-Armament and discovered in Caux's books and meetings suggestions for a different and effective life. She made some costly personal decisions and began working with Moral Re-Armament as a permanent, all-volunteer staff member.

In 1950, the Grandys traveled to the United States and Africa for extended periods. There she learned, she says, what it means to serve and do what needs to be done, without complaint. She made many friendships, some of them lifelong. Shortly after their marriage, Theri and Marcel were asked to spend three months in Cyprus to take over the work of Moral Re-Armament. Those three months became three amazing decades, the story of which can be read in their book Hope Never Dies.

Caux has always played an essential role in Theri's life and thinking, and she has never lost interest in what happens there and in all those who contribute to the unique atmosphere that is the "living fabric" of this meetinghouse. On the occasion of the funeral ceremony, a great number of testimonies arrived from all over the world, especially from the Middle East.

Here are two examples: Excerpts from the message of Ramez Salame, lawyer, Lebanon:

I met Theri and her dear husband Marcel for the first time in Beirut in 1969. Later, in 1977, they came to visit us after the war broke out in our country. But it is from 1980 onwards that they started to come and go between Cyprus, where they lived, and Lebanon. At that time, a nucleus of Moral Rearmament was formed in Lebanon, and Theri and Marcel were keen to help this nascent movement. It was not easy because few people ventured to come to us because of the war situation in the country.

At the same time, the Lebanese men and women who came to Switzerland received a generous and comforting welcome from Theri and Marcel, in their homes but especially in Caux. It is here, in Caux, that many of my compatriots learned to change their lives, to repent and to be open to others, and thus became precious instruments of dialogue, reconciliation and unity in our country.

Excerpts from the message of Spyros Stephou, Cyprus

It was fifty-one years ago, in 1960, that Theri and her dear husband Marcel entered our family life uninvited and unexpectedly. Our marriage was going through a difficult and even crucial time. Without wasting a minute, they immediately took us by the hand and, step by step, drawing on their rich reserves of love, led us out of the darkest darkness of total despair into the bright light of change, responsibility and love, first for ourselves and then for our country and the world.

During the 30 years they lived in Cyprus, when the Greek and Cypriot communities were killing each other, Theri and Marcel were among the few people who could travel to both parts of the island. The Greeks and Turks each had thousands of friends abroad who actually told them what they wanted to hear from foreigners: You are absolutely right and you are the victims. The others are completely wrong and the opposing community is behaving in a barbaric and cruel way towards you. But Theri and Marcel never gave in to this easy way of making friends. Theri didn't want fleeting friendships based on flattery and false hopes given to both communities. They wanted to create lasting friendships, with transformed and responsible people, based on moral criteria and faith in God. This is how all of Theri's Greek and Turkish friends will remember her.