Dorothy Elizabeth Autio Graham

She was born in Fitchburg, MA, on August 1, 1923, to Jacob L. and Aina (Hakkala) Autio. After graduation from high school in 1941, she entered the Nursing Program at Elliot Community Hospital here in Keene. After gaining her nursing license, she enlisted in the United States Army and served 5 years as a Nurse. She had also been stationed at the Brook General Hospital in Ft. Sam, in Houston, Texas. It was there that she met her future husband. She was discharged, with Honors, as a Second Lieutenant.

She married Robert C. Graham, on the base, on February 2, 1946. They just celebrated their 70th Anniversary the day before her passing.

In the late 1940’s, they moved back east to NH and later to Troy in the early 1950’s where they settled into the home that would be her home for the remainder of her life.

She worked as a Nurse for the Troy Schools and the town, as well as at Elliot Community Hospital, and later for the Cheshire Medical Center, from where she retired, in 1985, as a Nurse Supervisor, after over 35 years.

She was truly a nurse at heart, always looking to help others, to take care of others. In her limited spare time she enjoyed working around the outside of the home, tending to the gardens and flowers.

She is survived by her husband, of 70 years: Robert C. Graham of Troy; two sons: Darryl R Graham of Lolo, MT and Douglas W Graham of Burnsville, MN; one granddaughter: Angela J Turner and her husband Rod of Victor, MT as well as two great grandchildren: Elizabeth Turner and Kyle Turner. She was predeceased by a sister: Lillian Dahl.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Trinitarian Congregational Church of Troy, S Main St, Troy, NH 03465, on Monday, February 15, 2016 at 10:00 AM. There are no public calling hours. Burial will take place, in the spring, at a later date, in the Pine Grove Cemetery in Fitzwilliam.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made, in Dorothy E. Graham’s name, to the Shriners Hospitals for Children (www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org), 51 Blossom St., Boston, MA 02114

Fletcher Funeral Home & Cremation Services (www.fletcherfuneralhome.com ), 33 Marlboro St, Keene, has been entrusted with her arrangements.