Joseph B. Graham, 92, passed away peacefully at his Roslindale, MA home Feb. 13, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. Joseph's wife of 64 years, Catherine "Kaye" Graham, was at his side.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday February.19 at 10:00 am from Sacred Heart Church in Roslindale, where Joseph and Kaye were devoted parishioners. Visitation will be held at Robert J. Lawler and Crosby Funeral Home, 1803 Centre St. West Roxbury on Sunday February. 18, from 2:00 to 6:00pm. Burial will follow at a later date in Joseph's hometown of Judique, NS. Joseph, known as Uncle Joe to family and friends, was born in Judique, a small village on Cape Breton island, June 14, 1931. He was the son of Hugh R. and Sadie (MacLellan) Graham. Joe was the fourth eldest of six boys, all raised on a farm that helped instill in them the value of early hours and hard work.  He graduated Judique High School, and opened up a small grocery store, displaying the entrepreneurial spirit that defined most of his life. He eventually moved to Halifax, NS where he worked on the waterfront and met his beloved Kaye, who was working as a nurse nearby. They were married in New Glasgow, NS, and then moved to Ontario, Canada, where Joe worked in construction and maintenance at Niagara Falls. Upon their arrival to Boston in 1960, Joe opened a business which enjoyed great success over the years, the Joseph B. Graham Painting company.  Dozens of young Cape Bretoners arrived in Boston to work in the family business, along with several of Joe's brothers. Three nephews, Stanley Graham of Dedham (deceased), Daniel Buckland of Judique, NS (deceased), and Gordon Scott Graham of Roslindale remained full-time employees for nearly 30 years.
While Joe and Kaye did not have children of their own, they filled their home with visits and photographs and love for their family members residing in Cape Breton and Boston. Joe's heart was always in Cape Breton, and the fiddle music he grew up with remained at the center of his life. Joe and Kaye also enjoyed many years of Saturday night dances at the Canadian-American club in Watertown.

Together they shared a strong Catholic faith, and spent many hours in prayer. Joe was also an avid hockey fan, and enjoyed watching and wagering on live horse races. Most of all, he loved good company and stories from "down home" on Cape Breton, and keeping up with local news from the small island that raised him. He returned home every summer that he was able to.

Joe loved to recall the jokes and pranks that went along with being part of a big family of fun-loving boys. Some of his dearest memories were made with lifelong friends and neighbors at the Old Homestead, the affectionate name for the house he grew up in.

Whenever news spread that Joe was coming home to the Island, neighbors looked forward to a session filled with storytelling, Scottish music and the occasional whisky enjoyed in what they called The Clubhouse, a name Joe and his brothers gave the farm's toolshed. In addition to his wife, Joe is survived by one brother, Ronald D. Graham of Inverness, NS. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Mary Hopkins of Toronto, Canada. Many loving nieces and nephews throughout Canada and the United States, and their spouses and children, will also mourn his loss. He was predeceased by four brothers, Arthur, Alexander, Johnnie, and Duncan and several beloved nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Joe and Kaye's dedicated home staff, Marie Lazare, Judith Valmyr, Marie Baptiste, and Patricia Norris for making Joe's final years happy and restful. They would also like to express gratitude to Convenient Home Care Services, especially Stacey and Heather. They would also like to appreciate Sandra Graham of Dedham, wife to Joe's nephew Stanley, who prayed The Rosary many days with Joe in his home. Finally, the entire family extends their sincerest appreciation to Gordon Scott Graham of Roslindale, one of Joe's many devoted nephews, for his tireless support. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to Convenient Home Care Hospice Services, 329 Boston Post Road Unit A Sudbury MA 01776  or St. Andrew's Parish, 5480 Rt. 19, Judique, NS, CA.

To View Joseph's Funeral Mass via Live Stream go to www.sh-roslindale.org and scroll down to Live Streaming button.

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