Flora Maria Vittoria Theresa Castiglioni Graham, age 88, of Decatur, GA, died surrounded by her family at DeKalb Medical Center of heart related complications on April 26, 2009. The daughter of Spartaco Castiglioni and Theresa Vavra Castiglioni, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 56 years John, whom she cared for daily during his more than 10 year journey with Alzheimer’s disease. Flora is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Gloria and Thomas Daly of Stone Mountain, GA, daughter Terry Daly of Athens, GA, son-in-law Gerald Daly of Chatsworth, GA, grandson Timothy Daly of Stone Mountain, grandson and granddaughter-in-law Mike and Julia Daly of Decatur, granddaughter Jennifer Daly of Decatur, granddaughter and grandson-in-law Theresa and Thomas Dearman of Jefferson, GA, and granddaughter Heather Daly Dominicali of Athens. She delighted in her four great grandchildren: Alex and Allie Dominicali, and TJ and Jake Dearman. She is also survived by her sister Delores Witt of Crystal River, FL, and Isobel Gately of West Palm Beach, FL. Flora was raised in West Palm Beach, FL. She moved with her husband John to Atlanta in 1941 and for 68 years she was a devoted member and steadfast volunteer of The Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Atlanta. In response to the church’s 1982 fire, The Georgia Bulletin wrote that Flora became “The unofficial chairperson of Immaculate Conception's fundraising efforts.” She was quoted in the article saying, “Think positive -- there's no other way.” Those who were blessed to spend time with Flora always left enriched in some way by her wisdom and loving insight. She believed in handwritten notes, including personal messages in her Christmas cards, even if it took weeks to complete. However, at age 87 she embraced email and learned how to read a “blog” when her grandson Mike served in Iraq throughout 2008. She was a gifted artist who received her bachelor’s degree in Art History from Georgia State University in the 1960s. Her canvass of choice was her yard, with a living watercolor painting of trumpets, hydrangeas, camellias, and azaleas. She never met a cat or a hummingbird that did not take of up residence at her house. Nothing made her happier than a gathering of family and friends, with her most precious times spent with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Flora was dearly loved by everyone and is unimaginably missed. The family will receive friends at A. S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home (2773 North Decatur Rd.) on Thursday, April 30, with visitation/remembrance from 5:30-7:00 p.m.; Rosary at 7:00 p.m. The funeral mass will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, May 3 at The Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, with Monsignor Henry Gracz serving as Celebrant. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Flora Graham’s memory to The Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception at 48 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, SW, Atlanta, GA, 30303.
