Vera Grünthal Gleason

1925 - 2018

Vera Grünthal Gleason

Matthews, NC - Died peacefully Monday morning, January 1, 2018, after a brief illness at age 92 at her home in Plantation Estates in Matthews, NC.

Vera was born on August 2, 1925 in Tallinn, Estonia, the daughter of Timotheus Grünthal and Vera Poska Grünthal; granddaughter of Jaan Poska, the first Governor of Estonia. She, along with her family, left Estonia in 1944 for the safety of Stockholm, Sweden, where they found freedom from the Communists of Soviet-occupied Estonia.

In 1946, Vera was awarded a Scholarship to study at the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY. It was there, while obtaining her Bachelor's Degree in English, that she met her husband of 67 years, Dr. Peter Gleason. They were married in Rochester in 1950 following Vera's graduation and Peter's graduation from the University of Rochester Medical School. They lived in Illinois and California while Peter completed his residency and his military service with the Navy during the Korean War.

In 1955, they settled in Rochester to continue raising their family, which eventually grew to be five children. A homemaker, Vera was active in the Rochester Medical Society, Brownies and Cub Scouts and her children's school fundraisers and activities. When her youngest child started school, Vera began her life-long love of the game of tennis. She played in several tennis leagues and won many tournaments over the years, both in Rochester and Panama City Beach, Florida (their winter home for many years).

In 2005, Vera and Peter moved to their summer home in Canandaigua, NY. Her children and grandchildren have many fine memories of this lovely home as it played host to many a family visit by their children and grandchildren over the years. She and Peter enjoyed traveling throughout their marriage; and especially enjoyed cruises the last few years with their children on the Cunard ships. In 2014, Vera and Peter moved to Matthews, NC to be near their children. Vera enjoyed taking classes there in art history and Spanish, among other subjects; as well as playing social bridge, with Peter as her partner, in the bridge gatherings.

She is survived by her loving husband, Peter; her children, Patricia Gleason (the late Steve Kubik), Christine Gleason (Erik Larson), Constance Reid (Glenn Reid), Sharon Gleason and Timothy Gleason (Susan Gleason); her grandchildren, Jonathan, Kristen, Lauren, Erin, James, Timothy, Chloe, David, Megan, Will and Cate; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters, Tanni and Svetlana; her brothers, Ivar and Tommi; and her grandchildren, Erika and Samuel. Burial will be private in Rochester, NY. To share a memory of Vera or send a condolence to the family visit www.anthonychapels.com.