Mary Patricia Graff

SOUTH PORTLAND - Mary Patricia Graff, 83, of South Portland, died peacefully Sunday, May 19, 2013 in her home with her family at her side. She was born on February 4, 1930 in Portland, the daughter of Patrick Joseph and Anne Joyce Kane. Mary attended local schools and was a 1948 graduate of Cathedral High School where she was the salutatorian of her class. Mary graduated from St. Joseph's College with a degree in education. She taught briefly at Old Orchard High School and Hartland Academy. Following this, she met the love of her life, Robert Graff, and they were married in 1955. Early in her married life, Mary was a homemaker and a loving mother to her four children. Balancing her home life with a job at the Westbrook College library, she was an active mom in the community and very involved in all aspects of her children's lives. As her children grew up, Mary began a career as an educator in the South Portland School System. At South Portland High School, she was a well-loved English teacher who had a positive and lasting impact on the lives of many of her students. Her caring and dedication earned her the respect of colleagues and students alike. Throughout her teaching career and well into her retirement, she was an enthusiastic sports fan and could be seen at many athletic events with her beloved husband, Bobby. They especially loved attending football games together. One of the things Mary enjoyed most was being involved in the lives and activities of her ten grandchildren. Whether she was cheering from the sidelines of a soccer game or attending a dance recital, being a grandmother was a role she loved and cherished. Mary loved spending time outdoors, taking daily walks, and working in her gardens. During the summer she could often be found at the beach. Her annual camping trip to Isle of Haut with family and friends was something that she looked forward to each year.She was a communicant at Holy Cross Church in South Portland. Mary was predeceased by her husband, Robert Graff; sister, Sarah Rowe; and brother, Joseph Kane. She is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Gurnee and her husband, Lawrence and their children Timothy and Maryalice of South Portland; daughter, Margaret Graff and her husband, Peter Woodhouse, and their children, Ian and Louisa of Cambridge, MA; son, James Graff and his children, Robert, Patrick and Meghan of South Portland; and daughter Mary-Ellen Uhlarik and her children Benjamin, Caroline, and Sophia of Amesbury, MA. Up until the end of her life Mary was very appreciative of all the love and care she received from family and friends. Her family would like to thank Hospice of Southern Maine for their support during the last nine months of her life. Visiting hours will be Wednesday May 22, from 3:00-7:00 p.m. at Conroy - Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel at 1024 Broadway in South Portland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday May 23, at 11 a.m. at Holy Cross Church in South Portland. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to: the Robert Graff Scholarship Fund, Attn: Rafe Forland 130 Wescott Road South Portland, Maine 04106Online condolences may be expressed below.