Esther Isabel Cousins Graff, 89, of Lower Burrell, joined her husband and many other family members in Heaven Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, when she passed away in her home, while being lovingly cared for by her son, Edward, and surrounded by family. She was born Jan. 23, 1928, in Kittanning and was a life resident of the local area. She was a daughter of Mary and Logan Hooks and sister to six siblings. As the oldest child of seven, she helped to take care of her younger siblings, who all loved her like a mother. She lived some of her early adult years with her aunt, Esther Cousins, and three cousins, Clayton, Alice and Bill, whom she loved dearly. It was during those years that she met the boy next door, Edward F. Graff, who later became her loving husband of 64-and-a-half years before his death in 2014. Before devoting her life to raising her sons, Esther worked for G.C. Murphy in New Kensington and Schenley Distillery in Leechburg. Being a strong woman of God, a loving wife and devoted mother were of the most importance to her. When she would arrive at the annual family reunion, you would have thought she was the queen by the way her immediate and extended family greeted her. She was a member of Lower Burrell Church of God. In her later years, she also sometimes attended Lower Burrell Baptist Church, where her sons and their families were members. Survivors include her sons, Edward F. (Chris Martin) Graff, of Lower Burrell, and Elliott Scott (Karen) Graff, of Allegheny Township; grandchildren, Bradley (Amy) Martin and Jacob and Caleb Graff; great-grandchildren, Charlotte and Dylan Martin; siblings, Betty (Gerald) Moorhead, Joy Ann (Harry Doverspike) Whiten, Logan (Wendy) Hooks and Cindy (Ronald) Griffiths; and many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Forrest Graff; infant son, Earnest F. Graff; siblings, Connie Back and Rose Davison. The family would like to thank Bridges Hospice Services, with special thanks going to her aide, Nikki, and nurse, Tara, for the incredible care and love they gave to Esther.
Friends will be received from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the RUSIEWICZ OF LOWER BURRELL FUNERAL HOME, 3124 Leechburg Road at Alder St., Lower Burrell, where funeral services will be conducted at noon Monday, by the Rev. Douglas Crump. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Park, Lower Burrell. www.RusiewiczFH.com