Sister Marionella Graham, CSJ, 86

Sister Marionella Graham, CSJ, 86, died Sunday, Sept. 15, at St. Joseph’s Provincial House in Latham. She had been a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet for the past 66 years. 

Sister Marionella, the former Helen Mae Graham, was born in Syracuse on Nov. 13, 1932, daughter of the late John and Marian Cathers Graham. After graduating from St. John’s Catholic Academy in Syracuse, she entered the novitiate of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Troy on March 19, 1953 and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1960. 

Sister Marionella received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from The College of Saint Rose and spent 58 years in the ministry of education as a teacher and librarian in schools in the Albany and Syracuse dioceses, including 23 years at Blessed Sacrament School in Syracuse. In 2013, she retired to St. Joseph’s Provincial House where she had a knack for spreading joy to the Sisters and staff alike. 

Sister Marionella is survived by her beloved sisters, Carol (Pat) Marra, Joan (Nick) Aragona, and Marilyn Mellone; her sisters-in-law, Eva and Gladys Graham; her brother-in-law, Tony (Carol) Emmi; many nieces and nephews and their families; and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her brothers, William and John Graham, and her sister, Phyllis Emmi.  

A Mass of Christian Burial was held in the chapel of the Provincial House on Sept. 20. Donations in Sister Marionella’s memory may be made to the Development Office, Sisters of St. Joseph, 385 Watervliet Shaker Road, Latham, N.Y., 12110.