Granby’s Former Probate Judge Remembered

Arline R. Mooney, Granby's probate judge for 31 years, is being remembered in town as a generous, diligent woman, respected for her activism and for her knowledge of the law.  

A funeral Mass for Mooney, who died Jan. 11 at the age of 88, will be held Jan. 24. 

Mooney lived on Loomis Street in Granby for most of her life, and moved to West Hartford a number of years ago. After graduating from St. Joseph College, she went to Columbia Law School and received her JD in 1946, according to her obituary.  In 1960, she began her long tenure as probate judge.

Town Manager William Smith remembers Mooney as “a fine resource” and someone who was always looking for ways to help out the town. 

“She was a very helpful and wonderful woman,” he said.

Over the years, Smith said, Mooney was the moderator for many towns meetings and helped during elections. Even when Mooney moved out of town, Smith said, she continued to come back to Granby.

“Every Memorial Day, she would make her way up to Granby to see the parade,” he said. “She was a great, great person.”  

Gary Kevorkian, who has practiced law in Granby, said he knew Mooney since he was a child. 

“She was fair and she was tough,” he said, adding that she was also respected for her integrity and diligence. 

Over the years, Kevorkian said, many lawyers have have come and gone in Granby. Mooney, however, remained a constant. 

“The local folks knew her and knew her character and they trusted her,” he said. “She did not disappoint them.”

Alice Gleria, Kevorkian’s aunt, formed a friendship with Mooney nearly 60 years ago, in 1950. Gleria, who now lives in California, described Mooney as a very prominent, knowledgeable figure in Granby, both as a probate judge and as a local volunteer. 

Even though Gleria moved away from Granby, she  remained in touch with Mooney over the years and had just visited her in September. 

“We just always had a great relationship,” she said. “She was a lot of fun to be with.” 

Phil Main, the probate judge who immediately succeeded Mooney, described her as a very thoughtful and generous person. Main added that Mooney did a lot for organizations in town. 

In addition to serving as probate judge, Mooney was chairman of the Democratic Town Committee, served on the Zoning Board of Appeals and was a member of the Granby Chamber of Commerce, among many other organizations, according to her obituary.

Overall, Gleria said, “She lived a good, long life.”

On Sunday, Jan. 23, friends are invited to call at the Hayes-Huling & Carmon Funeral Home, 364 Salmon Brook St., from 3 to 5 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow on Monday, Jan. 24, at 11 a.m. at St. Therese Church, 120 W. Granby Road. Burial will follow in St. Bernard’s Cemetery in Tariffville.