Viola E. Graef

Viola E. Graef, 100 years young was a long time resident of Mount Prospect, proud survivor of the great depression and volunteer extraordinaire beginning with tutoring violin students at Kelvyn Park High School in 1940.

She worked at Scully Steel / US Steel Supply Division first in administrative roles, later in metallurgy sales on the “city desk”, and last in advertising, where she met and married Henry Graef, from the engineering department. Together they raised a family of four children while continuing volunteer activities with over 25 organizations such as The Prairie Cub, Mount Prospect Historical Society, PTA, reunions for Pennoyer school, Funston grade school and Kelvyn Park High, Clearbrook Center, South Church, YOMARCOS, Mount Prospect Garden Club, Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce, Camp Fire Girls and during WWII, with the Service Club at Fort Sheridan.

Somehow, she also managed to graduate with honors in a degree in Early Childhood Development and later continued classes in art, antiques, and genealogy. Another favorite pastime was gardening and cooking domestic and international dishes, especially for family celebrations. She is remembered by many for her beautiful smile and quick witted humor. Her religious faith kept her strong throughout a long life.

Viola is survived by her children Lynn Graef-Bodnariuc (Vasile), Edna Graef (Leslie Howell), Henry Graef (Judy Sorensen-Graef) along with grandchildren Elizabeth Klassy (Barry), Sarah Graef (friend Joseph Yoder), Jenelle Dandris (Jim), Jarod Hart (Marie) and 6 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Henry, daughter Frances and granddaughter Jennifer Harris. A special thanks to both the Huynh family and her friend Lynn Johann for providing support through the years.

Friends, relatives and community members are invited to attend a visitation celebrating her life at Lauterburg & Oehler Funeral Home, 2000 E Northwest Hwy, Arlington Heights, IL 60004 on Thursday, November 3 from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM. A Christian service will be held on Friday, November 4 at 11:00 AM at the Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery, 2501 East Euclid Ave, Arlington Heights, IL 60004.

An online guest book is available at www.lauterburgoehler.com

In lieu of flowers, she would be pleased to have donations made in her name to:

The Conservation Fund at The Prairie Club, 12 E. Willow St., Unit A, Lombard, IL 60148 https://www.theprairieclub.org or the Mount Prospect Historical Society, 101 South Maple Street, Mount Prospect, Illinois 60056 https://www.mtphist.org or Defenders of Wildlife 1130 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 https://defenders.org