Ana Ruth Graham

On April 16, 2026, we lovingly entrusted Ana’s adventurous spirit and gentle soul to her loving God at the age of 94. Ana was born in 1931 in Bogotá, Colombia, as the middle child among 10 siblings, a testament to her resilience.

She loved studying, playing classical piano, and enthusiastically accompanied her father to paint landscapes of the countryside together on canvas. Early on, she developed a trusting relationship with God, and throughout time, her faith grew stronger, guiding her through life’s joys, challenges, and sorrows.

An ambitious student, Ana graduated with a PhD in Philosophy from Javeriana University in Bogotá in 1954. At the age of 23, she traveled to Europe and earned a PhD in Romance languages from the Universidad de Madrid in Spain in 1957. She then accepted a teaching position at Columbia University and moved to NY.

It was in Manhattan that she met her future husband, Tom, a fellow Staten Islander who worked at Catholic Charities. They married on July 26, 1958, also the feast day of Santa Ana. Home was Queens, NY, and during this time, Ana completed a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Fordham University in 1968, which became her vocation.

When it came time to raise a family, Tom & Ana moved to Greenbelt, Maryland, as they were fond of the Washington, D.C. area. They raised their children, Dan & Martha, in Cheverly, Garrett Park, and moved to Gaithersburg in 1984 where they became members of St. John Neumann. Tom & Ana enjoyed hosting friends and families for Sunday brunch, Saturday dinners, and numerous holiday parties. Tom passed away in 2000, but she continued to engage in life and community.

Ana’s career in social work was fulfilling. She said that to do this kind of work, it “has to come from the heart”. She helped thousands, mentored social work students of all ages, and, at times, invited them to her home for dinner to meet her family. She spent the last 27 years of her Social Work career at the U.S. Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home in Washington, DC, and retired in 2011 at the age of 80 … and she continued to savor life.

Ana leaned into her faith for strength, and she truly loved the Lord with all her heart, soul, and mind. She was charitable, generous, social, composed, and very, very, cute. She left us knowing she was deeply loved by family and friends!

She is survived by her son Dan, granddaughter Veda, daughter Martha, daughter-in-law Amanda, and her sisters Lucila (age 90), and Teresa (age 97).