Surrounded by those who loved her, Betty passed away peacefully on Monday, April 23, 2018 at the age of 92. Growing up in the depression era, Betty realized that education and hard work would provide opportunities for a better way of life. While attending Attleboro High School she walked daily after school to her job at Balfour jewelry factory. This time commitment didn’t diminish Betty’s intense desire to excel in school. In 1943, she graduated from Attleboro High School as class valedictorian. Awarded a full scholarship, Betty attended Boston University as the first in her family to attend college where she became a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority. In 1947, she graduated from BU summa cum laude (highest honors) and was elected to the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Society, the nation’s oldest academic honor society.
On May 27, 1947 Betty married the love of her life, John Henry Graass in Attleboro, Massachusetts. Betty and John met at a college dance at the Trinity Church in Boston. Their marriage led to her most cherished work as a mother to her four children. While raising a family, Betty taught mathematics in middle and high school, earned her Master’s degree in Counseling from Bridgewater State University in 1971, became a high school guidance counselor at North Attleboro High School, and ultimately served as the Director of Guidance. Her career in the North Attleboro school system spanned 27 years. She always encouraged all of her students to do their best in school, just as she encouraged her own children. Betty believed that her mission as an educator was to provide a learning environment that is demanding but not intimidating and to assure each child that he or she can achieve. Her intelligent, compassionate manner helped more than a generation of North Attleboro students navigate their way through high school and on to their professional careers. Betty’s dedication to education is evidenced by the awards bestowed upon her. In 1988, Betty was awarded the North Attleboro-Plainville Rotary Club Distinguished Service Award for education and in 2011 she received the Excellence in Education Award from the North Attleboro High School Alumni Association.
Betty treasured summer vacations on Cape Cod and holidays with her children and grandchildren. Betty would often say that our lives are strung together by such special times spent together. Betty was smart, caring, utterly stylish, artistic, and had a gift for making people feel special. She inspired all those who knew her to do their best and live abundantly.
After Betty’s husband of 61 years, John Henry Graass, passed in 2008, Betty took a leap of faith and moved in 2012 to The Forum, an independent living retirement community in Dallas, Texas. The Forum became her new home and she quickly made many new friends, formed an active social life, and reignited her passion for watercolor painting. With her knack for remembering names and making everyone feel included, she was elected as the Resident Association Secretary of The Forum. Betty treasured her years at The Forum and felt privileged to be friends with the many exceptional people at this special community.
Betty is preceded in death by her parents, Mary (Shunney) and James Henry Mulkern, her husband, John Henry Graass, sister Patricia C. Griswold and beloved son, Eric Hans Graass. Her vivacious spirit is kept alive through her children, Jeffrey John Graass and wife Erin, Carol Ann Graass Lockwood and James Henry Graass and wife, Susan; her beloved granddaughters Stephanie, Jennifer and Catherine; grandsons John, James, JT, and Benjamin; great granddaughters Victoria and Madison and great grandsons Ethan, Adam, Max and Gavin.
The family would like to thank Dr. Susan McKinney and caregivers, Gloria Shorts and Nancy Mautia for the compassionate and skilled care they provided to Betty. Becauase some of Betty’s most treasured moments were spent teaching and counseling, in lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Mrs. Elizabeth Graass Scholarship Fund, established in 1988, c/o North Attleboro High School, 1 Wilson Whitty Way, North Attleboro MA 02760.
A funeral visitation will be held at the Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home 7405 West Northwest Highway, Dallas Texas on Friday, April 27, 2018 from 2-4 pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 133 North Main Street, Attleboro, Massachusetts on Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 11 am.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18