Edith F. “Edie” Graham

Edith F. “Edie” (Muller) Graham – 93, of North Reading and formerly of Dorchester, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 1, 2022 at Care One of Wilmington. Born in Boston, MA on January 10, 1929. She was the daughter of the late Leo J. and Rose E. (Saluto) Muller.

Edie spent her childhood growing up in Dorchester, MA. She was a child of the great depression, but her parents Rose and Leo Muller did their best to provide a comfortable home and instilled a strong sense of family in her throughout her younger years. Aunts, uncles and cousins lived in nearby neighborhoods while she was growing up and were a part of her everyday life. When family members came into difficult times, they often came to stay with Edie’s family. Her parents were hard working people and Edie inherited their diligence for working hard and doing the job right. Edie passed these principles on to her four daughters letting them know that with hard work and education you could achieve anything you wanted in life and become an independent person.

Edie attended Boston Public neighborhood schools and graduated from Girls High School in Boston in 1946. She then attended Burdett College School of Business and Shorthand. She found work at a local company called Boston Gas as an audit clerk where she met her future husband Henry (Hap) Graham.

Edie lived on Willard Road in North Reading for the last 67 years, but her connection to the town began when she was a young girl. She spent many summer days with family at her maternal grandfather’s summer camp on Willard Road with her parents, brother Fred and sister Jean escaping the heat of the city in Boston. Her grandfather, Thomas Saluto owned the land, built the camp and spent summers there gardening and tending to the fruit trees and lilac bushes on the property. Edie’s parents built a small four room house on a section of the land and gifted it to Edie and Hap once they married in 1953. Hap and Edie moved from Mill Street in Dorchester into 5 Willard Road in 1954 when their first daughter was 6 months old. This became and still is the family home. As the family grew, so did the original four room house with several additions. When Edie’s sister Jean got married, Jean and husband Joe Gigante moved into a small home next door to Edie and Hap’s where the original summer camp was located. This is where the next generation of the family began their lifetime with aunts, uncles and cousins sharing many memories. Edie was involved in her girl’s lives growing up. Many summer days she and her sister Jean would pack up the picnic baskets and load the car up with chairs and blankets and head to Crane Beach in Ipswich, Ma. They would hit the road by 8 AM and hope that the green head flies were not biting on those days. She was a Girl Scout Leader, volunteered many hours at St. Theresa’s annual fairs and at the elementary schools her kids attended. She eventually got a job as a teacher aid at the E. Ethel Little School when her youngest daughter started school. Once her children where older, she went back to her original line of work doing bookkeeping at Interstate Electric Services in Burlington, MA. In her free time away from work Edie was still family oriented.

Every Sunday after going to church there were family dinners. On summer holiday weekends Edie and her sister Jean would throw big backyard cookouts with aunts, uncles and cousins from the Boston areas attending, making for fun times, good eating and many happy memories. Edie loved to sew and made many dresses for herself and 4 daughters throughout their childhood lives. For fun Edie and Hap would go to the dances on Saturday nights at the Knights of Columbus Hall with their friends.

When Edie retired, she went to work in the Town Hall with Town Clerk Barbara Stats doing senior hours to earn credit on her property taxes. She also worked the Town elections counting votes into the wee hours of the morning. As Edie aged and her girls moved out on their own, she continued to live those values of hard work and being independent. She enjoyed reading, working outside tending to her flower beds and the yard, always taking pride in maintaining her home. Edie’s five grandchildren loved her dearly and always knew that she would be present to witness their life milestones and celebrations with appreciation and support.

Family members include her loving daughters, Jeanne M. McHale and her husband John of South Yarmouth, Cheryl A. Condon and her late husband Michael of Methuen, Mary F. Graham and her husband John Delapa of Westwood and Paula R. Graham-Dwyer and her husband Chris of North Reading; her sister Jean M. Gigante of North Reading and 5 grandchildren, Gregory, Christopher, James, Emily and Agnes. She was the sister of the late Frederick L. Muller. She was also survived by several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend her Funeral Mass that will be Celebrated on Saturday, December 10 at Noon at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street, North Reading. Visitation and burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to MSA Coalition for research to find a cure at (www.multiplesystematrophy.org) in honor of her son-in-law John Delapa.

6 thoughts on “Edith F. “Edie” Graham

  1. Such a wonderful life, Mrs Graham was a second mother to me. So many happy memories, especially at her annual Christmas Eve open house. I loved her laugh! Such a beautiful lady. She will be missed. Sending love to the family.

    1. Aunt Edie you will be missed by all. I was fortunate to have you as my Aunt and God Mother!!! Heaven has gained a wonderful angel!!! God bless you!! Much love you Nephew Joey

  2. We will sorely miss her beautiful smile and laughter. Rest in peace
    and rejoice with those gone before you.
    Love Joe, Chris, Micharl and Joey, Ememlia and Emberlee GIGANTE

  3. I remember Mrs. Graham as a child when I lived on Junction Rd. She was such a warm and kind lady. My sympathies are with Jeanne, Cheryl, Mary, and Paula. Reading this I can see you will all have wonderful and long lasting memories of your mom.
    Debbie (MacLeod) Jenkins

  4. Mrs. Graham was and always will be a fond memory in my life. I was always a welcomed guest at the Graham residence. She was someone that I always respected and would appreciate when she always made sure that I was included on summer treks to Crane’s beach. Mrs. Graham you will be missed by all who knew and loved you❤

  5. What a rich life your mom had. All the wonderful love from her extended family on a daily basis is what kept her young. May her memory be a blessing to you all.

Comments are closed.