Patricia Amato Graham

Patricia Ellen Amato Graham was born on January 29, 1936 in Grace Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut to parents John and Marion Mahan Amato of West Haven, Connecticut. Patricia died peacefully in her home, under the care of hospice and surrounded by loved ones on October 13, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada, due to lung cancer. She was 85 years old.

Patricia was loving, kind and compassionate. She was admired and respected by all who had the privilege of knowing her. As a very young child, Patricia was stricken with polio and received care at Shriners Children’s Hospital in Boston. As a result, Patricia developed muscle weakness that prevented her leg and foot from growing to full capacity. These medical challenges that she faced as a child, and even as an adult, never seemed to slow Patricia down. All who knew her would agree she was a person with great energy, determination and perseverance.

Patricia went to Stiles Elementary School for a very brief and challenging time. Her parents then made the important decision to move her to Lauralton Hall in Milford, Connecticut, where Patricia boarded until graduating from high school. At Lauralton Hall, Patricia made many friends and received a wonderful education in this caring community. She later worked at Western Electric where she also won a ‘Hello, Charley’ beauty contest. Patricia met her future husband at the wedding of a relative in 1954 and they wed in West Haven, Connecticut on November 24, 1956. They later moved to Long Island where they built a home in North Bellmore, New York and raised seven wonderful children. Patricia even had the distinction of winning “Mother of the Year” from the local newspaper due to an essay written by her oldest daughter in 1980.

Patricia and her late husband moved to Las Vegas, Nevada with three children in 1989 after Bob retired from the police force. Here they lived a very full and rich life. Patricia was a woman of very deep faith and this was the foundation for how she lived. She was very involved with volunteer work at St. Joseph, Husband of Mary, Roman Catholic Church and was passionate about being of service and helping others. She served as President of the Women’s Group for several years and was also responsible for coordinating the Annual Holiday Craft Fair where she helped raise a lot money for the church. Patricia was very creative and enjoyed making ceramics, painting and floral designs. Her home was filled with many of her beautiful works of art.

Patricia is preceded in death by her loving husband Edward Robert Graham (former Chief of Police in Hempstead, New York and Marine Veteran), her son Edward Robert Graham, Jr. and her daughter, Patricia Ellen Bitwinski.  Patricia is survived by her five remaining beloved children, Michael Graham Schill (Vanessa Reynolds - FL), Catherine Marian Graham (Jeffrey Perry - CA), John Michael Graham (CO), Daniel Joseph Graham (Eileen Graham - NY), and Susan Patricia Hoskins (Jay Hoskins - LV). Patricia was also blessed with eleven cherished grandchildren, Jessica, Amy, Devin, Bryanna, Kaitlyn, Rachel, Wyatt, Conner, Grace, Faith, Grace and two adored great grand-children, Sofia and Gino.  Patricia is also survived by her dear sister, Penny, and her niece and nephew, Tracey and Tommy.

Services will be held at Davis Funeral Home, 1401 South Rainbow Blvd. Las Vegas, Nevada on Monday, October 18th, 2021, from 4:00 – 8:00 PM. A memorial remembrance mass will take place on Tuesday, October 19th, at 10:00 AM at Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary, Roman Catholic Church located at 7260 West Sahara Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Patricia was loved by so many and will be deeply missed. As a friend in New York recently said, “She was one of a kind. They can throw away the mold after they made her.” In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Nathan Adelson Hospice. 4141 University Center Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89119 at www.nah.org or the American Lung Association at www.lung.org.