Florence F. Graham

Florence F. Graham, longtime resident of Marblehead, passed away on Monday morning, November 23, 2015 at Care Dimensions in Danvers following a brief stay. Her loss was attributed to complications from a lengthy battle with pneumonia. She leaves her loving husband and travel companion, David Graham, along with several nieces and nephews.

Florence was born in Windber, PA, later moving with her parents and family to Bridgeport, CT. Upon graduation from St. Vincent’s Hospital School of Nursing, and after a short stay as a member of the hospital staff, she turned her sights to becoming a nurse in the United States Navy. Upon receiving her commission as an Ensign in the Navy Nurse Corps, she shipped out to the western Pacific where she undertook nursing assignments at the US Naval Hospital on Guam.

Returning to the States following her Pacific tour of duty, she received orders to Naval hospitals at Pensacola and later to the Naval Air Station hospital at Chincoteague, VA where she first met her future husband who was a Naval Aviator stationed there with Patrol Squadron Eight.

Moving to Massachusetts with her husband, she continued her nursing career in both the Naval Reserve, from which she eventually retired as a Lieutenant Commander, and at the VA Hospital in Boston. Tiring of the commute from the North Shore, Florence soon found herself in a teaching position at the then Beverly Hospital School of Nursing. Teaching soon sparked her to a mid-course career change into the field of education. After first acquiring her BA and MA Degrees from Salem State College and then her coveted Doctor of Education from Nova Southeastern University, she launched into her second career as a Professor of History at Salem State, from which she eventually retired.

Travel to the UK and into Europe with her husband on his various assignments was an added joy in her life. Additionally, Florence cherished her time and effort in support of the Navy Nurse Corps Association along with her involvement as a member of her beloved Corinthian Yacht Club. In trips to Maine, she was additionally affiliated with the Friendship Sloop Society and in support of her husband who has been the Chairman of the Society’s Race Committee.

In May of 2012, Florence was knighted as a Dame Commandeur in the Knights Templar, Priory of Saint David in New England, from which her work produced great enjoyment.

Calling hours for her wake at Eustis & Cornell Funeral Home, 142 Elm Street in Marblehead will be on Friday, December 11, 2015 from 5 to 7 PM. The funeral will be held on Saturday morning, December 12th at 10 AM in her beloved Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 85 Atlantic Avenue in Marblehead. A Christian burial will follow at Waterside Cemetery, also in Marblehead. Relatives and friends are respectively invited to attend.

Donations in Florence’s memory may be made to the “NNCA Scholarship Fund”, c/o The Executive Director, Navy Nurse Corps Association, P.O. Box 3289, Newport, RI 02840.