Obituary of Violet Kathleen Graham

A memorial folder from the funeral service can be printed under the "Memories" tab, then click "memorial Folder". GRAHAM - Mrs.Violet Graham beloved wife of the late George Graham of the Invermay Health Centre, formerly of Foam Lake and the Invermay district passed away on Thursday, June 20, 2013 at the Gateway Lodge in Canora. Violet Kathleen Graham (nee Ogilby) was born on October 14, 1921 on SW 33-31-9 W2, Sheho, Saskatchewan, the second youngest daughter of Hugh and Jane Robinson (Cahoon) Ogilby. She took her schooling at Dunrobin & Newburn Schools where she completed Grade 6; Grade 7 was taken at home by correspondence. After Violet finished school she worked at home and also did housekeeping at Osborne's in Yorkton and at Pinder's at Theodore for the grand sum of $8.00 per month. Violet married George Graham on November 27, 1942 at Yorkton. They lived on the SW 26-32-9 W2 until December 1943, and then moved to NE 28-32-9 W2 where they lived until 1974. They sold their farm to son Donald and retired to Foam Lake. In 2004, Violet moved back to Invermay where she lived in a Seniors' Housing Unit. She became a resident of the Invermay Health Centre in June 2008. She passed away peacefully at Gateway Lodge, Canora on June 20, 2013. George & Violet had 6 children: Kathleen, Gordon, Donald and Allan (twins), William (Billy) and Eileen. Violet became a certified reflexologist in 1966 after completing the required courses in Calgary, Regina & Saskatoon. She gave treatments at home on the farm and also in Foam Lake until 1983. In her younger years she liked playing ball and at 75 she would still bat flies to her grandchildren when she went to the farm and they would run for her. She enjoyed going to the Seniors' Garden Parties at her daughter's farm, as well as travelling to Ontario and B.C. Violet liked knitting, sewing, gardening and looking after her flowers. She was a great cook and liked baking. Boston Brown Bread, oatmeal cookies and shortbread were her grandkids' favorites. Violet enjoyed visiting her friends and the family gatherings, be it for a birthday or Christmas. We always called her the family "matriarch" in her later years. In more recent years, she became "Grandma Purple", a name given her by a great-grandchild, Bronwyn, because it seemed like Great Grandma was always wearing something with purple in it or on it whenever she saw her. Mom had excellent penmanship and every letter was perfectly formed according to the "A.B.C. Learning to Write" book. She made her choice to serve God many years ago and was true to her beliefs until her passing. Violet was predeceased by her husband George (1988), sons Allan (1980) and Billy (2012); parents Hugh (1969) and Jane (1938) Ogilby; brothers Tom (1939) and Willy (1998); sister-in-law Anna (1990), brother-in-law & sister-in-law Harvey and Irene Ashdown, brother-in-law Bob Graham; nephews Lyle & Malcolm Ashdown and Bob (Robert G.) Graham and niece Linda Thomson; father-in-law & mother-in-law John and Jane Graham and daughter-in-law Lynn Graham. She will be remembered by her 6 children & 18 grandchildren: daughter Kathleen (Chester) Minhinnick, children Dale (Gail) Minhinnick, Crystal (Barry) Halushka, Candace (Blair) Cmoc, Cindy (Jason) Babichuk and Carmen (Colby) Wolkowski; son Gordon (Sharon) Graham, children Cheryl Graham, Cameron (Suzanne) Graham and Marshall Graham; son Donald, children Regan (Jana) Graham and Diana (Darwyn) Glas; daughter-in-law Shirley Graham, children Jodi (Jeff) Cobb and Shawn (Katherine) Graham; daughter-in-law Darlene Graham, children Michelle (Jeremy) Glas, Clarke Graham, Wendy (Noel) Parish and Kelly Graham; daughter Eileen (Jack) Rioch, children Quinn Rioch and Brooks Rioch, as well as her sister Jean Graham and 34 great-grandchildren: Josh, Cody, Levi and Nathaniel Minhinnick; Austin Halushka; Riley, Dakotah, Kennedy and Caitlin Cmoc; Breanne, Orrie, Mikayla and Brendan Babichuk; Grady, Porter and Paisley Wolkowski; Kelin and Cordell Graham; Faye and William Graham; Brandon and Doran Graham; Preston and Morgan Graham; Abigail, Brennan and Dillan Graham; Merra and Nella Cobb; Madeline and Weston Glas; Bronwyn, Ryland and Lennon Parish. She is also remembered by many nieces, nephews and cousins, including some cousins in Australia and Ireland and relatives in Ontario. Mom, you are once again with Dad, Allan and Billy. You were loved by all of us and will be missed, not only by us, but by your many friends as well. Funeral Services were held on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 from the Invermay Community Hall with Agnes Smiley, Margaret Hansen and Jim Atcheson officiating. Granddaughter, Jodi Cobb was the pianist. The hymns were 'Only Remembered', 'Called Home To Rest' and 'Near To The Heart of God'. Jodi Cobb and Katherine Graham sang a duet 'Blessed Homeland'. Granddaughters, Diana Glas and Carmen Wolkowski read a poem 'For My Children'. Interment followed in the Invermay Community Cemetery with grandsons, Dale Minhinnick, Regan Graham, Cameron Graham, Shawn Graham, Clarke Graham, Kelly Graham, Quinn Rioch and Brooks Rioch serving as casketbearers. Granddaughters, Crystal Halushka, Cheryl Graham, Candace Minhinnick, Cindy Babichuk, Carmen Wolkowski, Wendy Parish, Diana Glas and Jodi Cobb served as Honourary Bearers. Memorials in memory of Violet may be made towards the Enhanced/Respite Room C/O ICMC Box 241 Invermay, SK S0A 1M0 as gifts of remembrance. Condolences can be forwarded to the family at www.baileysfuneralhome.com Arrangements were entrusted to Bailey's Funeral Home. Service Information Tuesday, June 25th, 2013, Invermay Community Hall Interment Details Invermay Community Cemetery