Sister Laurette Graver, O.P., age 99, died on Friday, April 25, 2003, at St. Dominic Villa in Sinsinawa, WI.

Sister Laurette was born in Chicago as Mae Rita Graver on January 10, 1904, daughter to Henry Phillip and Sarah (Dillon) Graver. She entered St. Clara Convent in Sinsinawa on August 14, 1926, and made her first profession of religious vows on August 5, 1928. She was an elementary school teacher and administrator for 51 years, and has lovingly served communities in Wisconsin, Nebraska, New York, Illinois, Minnesota, and Iowa. She is predeceased by her ten brothers Raymond, Thomas, William "Whitey", Fred, Harry "Dewey", Robert, John "Bay", Martin, Frank, and Charles. She will be remembered by her Dominican Sisters and her many loving nieces and nephews.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Queen of the Rosary Chapel, Dominican Motherhouse, Sinsinawa. Burial will be in Motherhouse Cemetery. Friends may call after 5:15 p.m. Monday at the Gathering Place, Dominican Motherhouse, Sinsinawa, where there will be a wake and remembering service at 6:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Sinsinawa Dominican Memorials, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, WI 53824-9700. Arrangements by Dennis Kitchen Funeral Home, (563)582-5222.
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The death notice above is to appear in the Chicago Tribune on Tuesday, April 29, 2003. At http://www.legacy.com/chicagotribune/LegacyHome.asp, you can click on April 29th to view her death notice. From there a guest book will be available online for all who wish to share their memories of Sr. Laurette.

I attribute my interest in genealogy largely to Sr. Laurette, and have been to the church in Ballina, County Mayo where her mother was born. I have fond memories of seeing Sr. Laurette on holidays and at the annual Graver picnic. I remember her as being kind, joyful, and witty. She was a wonderful person.

Bob Murphy (grandson of Sr. Laurette's brother Frank).