It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of our mother on July 31, 2025. Mary (Maria)
deFaye Cranna was born in Vancouver, British Columbia on March 18, 1923 and emigrated to
the United States with her husband, N.Greig Cranna after the war.
She was pre-deceased by her husband Greig Cranna and her daughter Jill Cranna Preotle. She
is survived by her children, Judith Cranna (Harry Leichtman) of Cambridge, Greig Cranna (Pam
Cranna) of Cambridge and Bruce Cranna (Jill Cranna) of Milton, and her son-in-law John
Preotle of Boston. Survived also by five grandchildren; Jane Preotle of Boston, Matt Preotle
(Elly Preotle) of Winchester,Tim Preotle (Rachel Shnider) of Washington, D.C., Molly Cranna of
Los Angeles, Caroline Cranna (Kevin Carpenter) of Boston, Julia Cranna of New York City. Also
survived by Andy Leichtman of Medford and Jeff Leichtman (Kristin Leichtman) of Evergreen,
Colorado and her many great-grandchildren, Cadence, Violet, Lylah, Sadie, Nate, Lucy, Zoe,
Charlie, Mimi, Milo and Wiley.
She touched many lives in her 102 years with her relentless optimism, energy, and upbeat
approach to life. She believed deeply in social causes and put her beliefs on the line when she
participated in the Selma to Montgomery march in 1965. One of her great wishes was to vote
in the last presidential election, which she did.
As her children left home for college, she began working at the Gates School in Acton as
assistant to the Principal and enjoyed a long tenure there. Once retired, she and Greig moved
to Brewster on Cape Cod and enjoyed many years of tennis, hiking, travel, and volunteering at
the Brewster Ladies Library. Mum was ahead of her time on many of today's issues, reading
about nutrition, environmental issues and exercise long before they became mainstream. We
will always remember her baking bread, making yogurt, butter tarts, Yorkshire puddings and
Scottish shortbread ( no Twinkies or store bought bread in this house! ).