Anne M. (Couto) Graham

ANNE M. (COUTO) GRAHAM – in Woburn, June 7th. Beloved wife of Donald G. Graham. Dear stepmother of Jennifer Ann Graham of Virginia Beach, VA. Devoted sister of Helena Couto of N. Chelmsford, Maria Kuentz of TX, and Frances Galvin of Stow. Sister-in-law of Cynthia Mertz and her husband Curtis. Anne is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews, and many friends.

A Funeral will be held from the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn on Saturday, June 18th at 9:00 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Barbara’s Church, 138 Cambridge Road, Woburn at 10. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to calling hours at the Funeral Home on Friday, June 17th from 4-8 p.m. Interment is private.

OBITUARY

Anne M. (Couto) Graham died at the Excel Center at Lexington June 7th after a thirteen year battle with Alzheimer’s.

Anne was born November 15, 1942, the youngest of four girls to Mary and Joseph Couto at home on Mishawaum Road, Woburn. Anne is also survived by three sisters, Helena Couto of Chelmsford, Maria Kuentz and her husband Brad of Texas and Frances Galvin of Stow. Anne was an aunt to her sisters’ children and their families.

Anne attended schools in Woburn at St. Charles and the Wyman School. In 1956 she attended the Academy of Notre Dame in Tyngsboro where she graduated with the class of 1960.

In 1960 Anne entered the Sisters of Notre Dame Namur and left in 1970. Anne took the religious name of Sister Philomena Joseph; Philomena after her godmother Philomena George and Joseph after her father, Joseph Couto.

As a Sister with the Sisters of Notre Dame Namur she tough school in Peabody and Needham at their church’s schools. After leaving in 1970, Anne began a long career as a teacher for the Town of Wakefield which lasted until 2003 when she had to retire as a result of being diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment.

Besides being a teacher, she joined the Quannapowitt Players of Reading. She was their president from 1981-1983. She stayed involved with the Quannapowitt Players until 2003 when she was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment.

In February of 1987, Anne ran an ad in the Singles Almanac. Her future husband, Donald Graham replied twice to her ad which turned into a blind date and dinner at the Magic Pan at the Burlington Mall.

In 1988 on Father’s Day week, Anne and Donald moved into 10 Clinton Street which was around the corner from where Anne was born at home on Mishawaum Road. Also in 1988, Anne felt a need to continue the religious part of her life, so she and Donald began attending Mass at St. Barbara’s Parish in Woburn. This continued until Anne was moved to the Golden Living Center (the Excel Center) in Lexington after being a patient at Winchester Hospital for ten days. Anne taught CCD classes at St. Barbara’s and was a leader of song for the first communicants even during the early stages of her illness. Despite it all, Anne always found time in her busy schedule for friends and family.

Before Anne fell ill, she kept herself Busy with her “Delightful Dozen” classmates on a regular basis. Super Bowl Sunday brunches, trips to Canada, and dinners out were all things that Anne enjoyed.

On July 23, 1994 Anne and Donald were married in Stoneham. The former pastor of St. Barbara’s, Fr. Vincent Mellone, assisted in their wedding vows. Their wedding day would not have been complete without Anne’s “Delightful Dozen” classmates to share with them their wedding and reception in Stoneham. Their honeymoon was to Prince Edward Island to visit Donald’s grandfather’s place of birth.

In 2003, Donald became Anne’s caregiver for the next thirteen years. Anne’s third anniversary at the Excel Center fell short by five days. During Anne’s time there, Donald became a strong advocate for his wife with Alzheimer’s and in 2014 started a Family Council to help other families get through some of the tough decisions; legal, mental and financial matters relative to their loved ones.

Anne’s funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend calling hours Friday, June 17th, from 4:00-8:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held from St. Barbara’s Church, 380 Cambridge Road, Woburn, Saturday, June 18th, at 10:00 a.m. Interment is private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Anne’s memory to the Sisters of Notre Dame Demur, Ipswich, the Academy of Notre Dame Scholar Ship Fund in Tyngsboro or the St. Barbara’s Building Fund.