She is remembered by her daughter, Kathleen Matera; son, John Graham (Wife Donna); brother, George Cowell (Wife Betty); grandchildren, Holly Mazzia (Husband Michael), Bonnie Cornelison (Husband Bradley), Kelly Matera, Nick Matera, Austin J. Graham, and Kristen Finnegan (Husband Anthony); as well as seven great grandchildren, and a host of caretakers and friends from her years in New York and Tennessee. She was preceded in death by her husband, John “Jack” Graham; her mother and father, Catherine and Joseph Cowell; siblings, Joseph and Margaret Cowell, and Joan O’Brien; loving sons, Joseph Graham, Michael Graham, and Thomas Graham; as well as her son in law and best buddy Ralph Matera, who cared for Kathryn for nearly five years before his own passing in 2020.
Kathryn worked hard, loved her family deeply, and always maintained a healthy sense of humor and positivity about life. She resided in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, New York nearly her whole life, commuting to the Chemical Bank of Manhattan, bearing five dear children, and remaining a faithful Parishioner of St. Michael Roman Catholic Church until 2013 when she embarked on the adventure of a lifetime, moving to Tennessee for the final 12 years of her life. After moving to Tennessee, Kathryn enjoyed celebrating holidays and traveling with her extended family, as well as taking in the mountain views first living with Kathleen and Ralph before moving to NHC Johnson City, where she had many dear roommates and friends over the years. The family will always be grateful to the dedicated caretakers of Nursing Station 4 who helped to care for Kathryn with such grace, and diligence for the last five years. Despite losing her late husband young, she carried a torch for the love of her life, John “Jack” Graham for nearly fifty years before rejoining him. She will be dearly missed by all of us who knew and loved her.
The family will receive friends Friday, January 10, 2025 from 11:00AM until 12:00PM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 2211 E. Lakeview Drive, Johnson City, TN. A Funeral Mass will follow at 12:00PM with Father Dustin Collins officiating. A Private Inurnment will be held at a later date in Monte Vista Memorial Park.
The family request no flowers, and contributions be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee, 1020 Jericho Drive, Kingsport, TN 37663.
Arrangements especially for Mrs. Kathryn Rose Graham and her family have been made through Monte Vista Funeral Home & Memorial Park, 1900 E. Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, TN; 423-282-2631.
