Rita Veronica Graham

Rita Veronica Graham, 84, of Astoria, died Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013, in Astoria.

She was born Aug. 20, 1928, in San Francisco, to Roy Vincent and Elizabeth Helena (McGrath) Graham.

She attended school in San Francisco, graduating from Star of the Sea Academy in 1947. She went on to attend beauty school, graduating in 1949.

Ms. Graham worked as a hair stylist for 40 years. She then worked as a companion/caregiver for Mac MacBride and moved from San Francisco to St. Croix, Virgin Islands, joining him and his daughter, Susan Hoffman and her family. Following Hurricane Hugo in the Virgin Islands, she moved to Astoria in 1989, and has resided here since.

Family members said her hobbies included watching game shows and spending time with her close family friends, the Hoffmans, and many other friends.

She is survived by a sister-in-law, Carol Graham of Manteca, Calif.; two nephews, Charles and John Bidwell of Livermore, Calif.; a niece, Jane Frances Nave Gotelli of California; a great-nephew, Steven Robert Gotelli of California; and close friends Susan Hoffman of Astoria, Pete Hoffman of Warrenton, Kathryn Eastridge of Vancouver, Wash., Ken Hoffman of Camas, Wash., and Michael Hoffman of Portland.

She was preceded in death by three sisters, Evelyn Nave in 1971, Elizabeth A. “Betty” Graham in 1989, and Mary Theresa Bidwell in 2012; and a brother, William H. “Bill” Graham in 2012.

Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, March 6, at Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary, 1165 Franklin Ave.

A recitation of the rosary will take place at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 6, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 2 p.m., at St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 1465 Grand Ave. A reception will follow from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Chart Room, 12th Street and Marine Drive.

A graveside service will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, Calif.

An online guest book may be signed at www.caldwellsmortuary.com