Linda Marie Graham was born on December 15, 1941, to Sylvester and Eleanor Bachtel.

Linda grew up in Massillon, Ohio on Lincoln Way.  She attended Canton Central Catholic and graduated in 1960.  Following graduation, Linda moved to the Cleveland area and began nursing school at St. John’s Hospital. She graduated with her nursing degree in 1963 and began working at Fairhill Psychiatric Hospital. While working at Fairhill, Linda met Edward Graham. The two married a couple years later and began their family.  Christine Marie was born in 1966, Anthony Paul in 1968, and Terrance James in 1975.

Though Linda desired to be a stay-at-home mom, her passion for expectant mothers and babies lead her to the fields of labor and delivery, newborn nursery, intensive care nursery, and postpartum nursing.  She worked at numerous hospitals in the Cleveland area but most of her nursing career was spent between Brentwood Hospital, now South Point, and St. Luke’s Hospital.  Linda’s commitment to nursing concluded in the year 1999 when St. Luke’s Hospital closed.

Linda’s excellence in nursing was only overshadowed by her life’s work as a mother.  The word mother is defined as a female parent. This does not describe Linda.  Linda, lovingly known as “Ma”, was a protector, a provider, a seamstress, a counselor, a mentor, a cook, and sometimes an off-duty nurse.  “Ma” was caring, nurturing, devoted, involved and finally a paramount mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

“Ma” loved spending time doing anything with her family. She attended many sports events for her children and grandchildren.  She loved traveling to Virginia Beach with Eddie and the kids, taking care of the numerous cats she had throughout her life, and enjoyed sitting in her backyard on warm, sunny days.

Linda/”Ma” leaves to cherish her memories: her brother, James and his wife Jo; her children, Christine, Anthony, and Terrance; her grandchildren, Timothy, Christopher, Tavia, Anthony Jr., Kandyce, Terriana; her great-grandchildren, Christopher Isaiah, and Hunter; her two nephews, James Jr. and Matthew; her niece, Amanda; her step mother, Anna Bachtel; her step sister, Jody; her step grandson, Ta-Rel; her step nieces and nephews, Devan, Dustin, Dillon, Janette, and Jacey; and many treasured cousins, family and friends.

“Ma” you will live in our hearts forever.

Your Loving Family