Louise F. Graham

GRAHAM, Louise F. (nee Blanken).  Beloved wife of the late Jerome M. Graham.  Loving mother of Mary (Karl) Oberle, Lisa (Tom) Brackmann, Jeanne Graham, Susan (Jim) Spraul and Nicholas Graham.  Grandmother of Alisa (Sarah) Oberle, Matt (Gina), Tommy and Andrew Brackmann, Douglas (Kim), Michael, Erik, David and Elyse Spraul.  Great-grandmother of Therese Louise Brackmann and Juliana Denise Brackmann.  Sister of the late Bernetta Fogelman, Elmer and Robert Blanken.  Louise passed away on Monday, December 5, 2022, just shy of turning 103 years old.

Louise loved her family, faith, and nature, above everything else. Being a homemaker was her greatest joy, following a short career as a bookkeeper. She enjoyed her travels, both domestically and internationally, including Switzerland, where her first grandchild, a granddaughter was born. Other fun travels included, Russia, Germany, the Scandinavian countries, and with her tour groups to Alaska and many other USA destinations. Her grandchildren were her “everything”. She was very active with her grandkids once her husband passed. At any time, you’d find her court side for basketball games, on bleachers for soccer games, or pool side for swim meets/ water polo games. Being so very involved with the grandkids meant she knew many of their friends, and therefore became “Grandma” to many more than her own 9 grandchildren.

In her younger years, she enjoyed both tennis and golf with her girlfriends. (Yes Mom, we will make sure we mention that you won a trophy in high school as a top tennis player, which is still on her shelf today). Until she was 96 years old, she drove and loved her swim aerobics classes at the YMCA three days a week. Her motto, “keep on moving if you want to stay young” and she certainly did.
If asked what her secret to a long happy life was, she’d reiterate family, her Catholic faith/ St. James Wyoming church community, neighbors, good food, and a great bottle of wine, scotch, or bourbon! Cheers to you Mom/Grandma/ Aunt Babe/ Friend, may you enjoy many cocktails with Dad and all your heavenly family and friends. We will miss you. 

Visitation will be held on Monday, December 12, 2022 at Hodapp Funeral Home, 7401 Vine Street, Carthage, 45216 from 9 am – 10 am, followed by Mass of Christian burial at St. James of the Valley, 411 Springfield Pike, Wyoming, 45215 at 10:30 am.  Donations may be made to the Society of St. Vincent De Paul, 1125 Bank Street, Cincinnati, 45214.  Condolences at hodappfuneralhome.com