Berta M. Graham

Berta Marie Graham (nee Ott) died peacefully on August 13th, 2023, at Samaritan Hospice in Virtua Memorial Hospital, Mt. Holly, New Jersey, at 95 years of age. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 44 years R. Stuart Graham, her second husband Dewayne K. Guhn, her brothers Joseph, Francis, and William Ott, and nearly all of her dearest friends. She is survived by two children, two grandchildren, and several great grandchildren. Her devoted son, Stuart J. Graham, was by her side as she passed. Additionally, she always hoped that she would be survived by all of the children that she and her husband Stu fostered through the early years of their marriage.
Berta was born May 11th, 1928 in the Olney section of Philadelphia. Her parents were William J. Ott and Bertha M. Ott (nee Geisser). She attended St. Helena Catholic School and Little Flower High School where she majored in music and English. Growing up, there was always music in her home. Her mother started her playing the piano at the age of five, and she became an accomplished classical pianist, once performing at the Academy of Music. She was already teaching piano by the age of 16, and continued teaching until her retirement 35 years later. She also played clarinet in High School band and orchestra. Along with the piano, she played the organ, beginning at 10 years of age, and in time the Sisters of St. Joseph would recruit her to play both the High and Low Masses. At age 21, she was playing organ for the Lutheran Church of St. John in Northeast Philadelphia. Later, when living in Levittown, Pennsylvania, she was a charter member of Resurrection Lutheran Church, starting a choir while holding services in a local fire house while the church was being constructed. After moving to Willingboro, New Jersey in 1959, she was a charter member of St. Luke Lutheran Church, where she started both children and adult choirs. While there, she served as a Worship Chairman and was a member of the L.C.W. (Lutheran Church Women), while raising her children and teaching piano to both adults and kids.
When she retired from music teaching, she missed the music and camaraderie of students, so she joined the Life Program at Burlington County College and started an adult choral group. They performed at regular meetings and at Easter and Christmas parties. When not involved in music, she was a voracious reader. She always said that "When I die God better have a library and music room waiting for me."
Up to her death she was always trying to learn, attempting to keep up with the electronic world. Her son was only a phone call away to help her when she reached the inevitable snag. She would have liked more time to master new technologies but gave God thanks for all the years he did bestow upon her. She was generous to a fault, strong willed and a bit stubborn at times, a great cook (still concocting excellent meals right up to her death), and if you showed up at her house you absolutely had to eat. She left an impression on all who got to know her. She will be sorely missed, but she's with her loved ones and friends. She took comfort when her grandparents promised that she would be well taken care of all through her life and beyond.
Services were held at Perinchief Chapels in Mt. Holly on August 21st. Private interment took place the following day, where she was buried with her first husband at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown, NJ. Memorials in her name can be made to her favorite charity, the St. Joseph Indian School in Chamberlain, SD, 57326, which provides learning opportunities to children of the Lakota and Sioux tribes.