Jeanette A. Graves

Jeanette A. Graves, age 100 Columbia Heights, Minnesota

Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. with memorial services to follow at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Columbia Heights for Jeanette Graves, who passed away peacefully at her home.

Jeanette was born on April 9, 1925, in Rainy River, Ontario, Canada, to George and Agnes (Ringrose) Sleeman. She spent a few years in The Big Apple of New York before moving to South Minneapolis. On August 10, 1957, she was united in holy matrimony to Eugene Graves at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, where her faith remained an important part of her life. Together, she and Eugene raised their family in Columbia Heights, and Jeanette devoted herself to being a homemaker.

Beyond the home, Jeanette also worked in the credit department at Dayton’s and later serving as a cook at Valley View Elementary School and Highland Elementary School in Columbia Heights. She was a woman of strong faith and an active member of St. Matthew, where she lovingly embroidered baptismal cloths for the church.

She will be remembered for her love of embroidery, her baking, her joy in celebrating Christmas, her jitterbug dancing, and above all, her devotion to her grandchildren. They were her pride and joy, and she never hesitated to drop everything to spend time with them. She made many trips with them to Canada, sharing stories of her childhood and family history. Jeanette’s kindness, caring nature, and wonderful sense of humor will be dearly missed.

Jeanette is survived by her children, Terri Fender of Osakis, Gary Graves (Cynthia Rako) of Columbia Heights, and Victoria (Bernie) Lacina of Princeton; sister-in-law, Shirley Sagedahl of Columbia Heights; and grandchildren, Jacob (Rachel), Benjamin (Christina), Blaine (Kollin), Joe, and Rachael.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Eugene; daughter, Gloria Jean; siblings, Bertrum, Herma, Garnet, Curtis, Wallace, Kenny, and Lloyd; and son-in-law, Robin Fender.