Manuel "Manny" S. Granja, 86, died on October 26, after a brief illness at Waterbury Hospital. He had been a resident of Glendale Nursing Home in Naugatuck, where he was dearly loved by the staff and friends. He was a lifelong Danbury resident and was born on December 12, 1929, the son of the late Edwiges (Silva) and Joaquim Granja. He was the oldest of seven children.

Mr Granja attended Danbury schools and worked in his younger years at Harry McLoughlin's hat shop in Danbury and Curtiss Box Shop in Sandy Hook. He became employed with the City of Danbury Public Works, as a truck driver, where he retired after more than 20 years of. service. He joined the original Portuguese-American Club on Liberty Street, Danbury, at age 19 and before his death, was the oldest member in its community.

His two sons and their wives, Michael and Allene of Middlebury and Joseph and Christine of Southbury, survive him. He has six adoring grandchildren, Tahlya Stevenson, Heather Smead, and Kevin, Olivia, Matthew, and Samantha Granja, as well as five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Jack Granja, and family, of Danbury; his sister Mary Jane Pereira, and family, of Trenton, Fla.; and his sister-in-law Carolyn Granja, and her family, of New Milford. His wife, Alma Claire Young, after 57 years of marriage, predeceased him. He was also predeceased by his brother Mario, and three sisters, Laura Granja, Dolores Malumphy, and Zulmira Sherwood.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, October 29, at 10 am at St Joseph Church, 8 Robinson Avenue, Danbury. Interment will follow in St Peter Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday, October 28, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, at the Cornell Memorial Home, 247 White Street, Danbury.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Glendale Recreational Fund, 4 Hazel Avenue, Naugatuck CT 06770.

To light a candle of hope and remembrance, visit cornellmemorial.com.