Judith E. Graves

Judith E. Graves                           “beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and sister”

ELDRED, PA---Judith E. “Judy” Graves, 83, of Eldred, passed away on Saturday, February 21, 2026, in the Bradford Ecumenical Home, Bradford, after a long illness.

Born on Monday, April 20, 1942 in Olean, NY, she was a daughter of Sigfred and Violet Chelgren Alexis. On June 11, 1966 in Olean, NY, she married William R. Graves, who survives.

Judy was a graduate of Otto-Eldred High School. She was employed as a secretary in Olean at Prudential Life Insurance and later worked as a bookkeeper at the former Spring Hill Dairy in Portville, NY.

Judy was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Portville where she was a member of the church choir, had served as a Sunday School teacher, and had served on the Altar Committee. She enjoyed reading, embroidery, baking, writing in her journal, camping, and traveling across the country having visited every state except for Hawaii. She loved watching sports with her husband, especially her grandchildren’s sporting events. She also enjoyed watching plays and dancing. Her greatest love was spending time with her family.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 59 years; two daughters, Joyce A. (Jack) Aderman of Glen St. Mary, Florida and Laura S. (Joel) Burdick of Columbus, Ohio; five grandchildren, Travis (Sara) Aderman, Jordan Burdick, Brooke Burdick, Chelsea Shelander and Alyssa (Damen) Palmer; four great-grandchildren, Jack “Bubba” Aderman, Abby Aderman, Izzy Aderman, and Luke Aderman; two sisters, Nancy (Spike) Wilcox of Concord, NC, and Mary Kay Danielson of Gordonville, PA; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Judy was predeceased by a daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen L. and Mark A. Shelander; a son, Thomas A. Graves; two grandsons, Ryan T. Aderman and Daniel J. Aderman; and two sisters, Carol Jean Hahn and Beverly Robinson.

Family and friends may gather from 6pm to 8pm on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 and from 12pm to 1pm on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, 118 S. Union Street, Shinglehouse, where funeral services will follow at 1pm in the funeral home with the Rev. John A. Kearns, pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Allegany, NY, officiating. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Shinglehouse.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Judith’s name may be made to Bethel Lutheran Church, PO Box 606, Portville, NY 14770; to the Alzheimer’s Association at https://donorservices.alz.org/; to the Maple Grove Cemetery Association, c/o B. West, 57 S. Branch Canada Hollow Road, Shinglehouse, PA 16748; or to the Otto-Eldred Education Foundation, PO Box 27, Eldred, PA 16731 (in memo line-- Kathy and Mark Shelander Scholarship Fund).

Judy’s family has entrusted her care to Kevin J. Dusenbury, funeral director/owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse.

To express condolences, light a candle or share a fond memory of Judy, please visit www.virgillhowardfuneralhome.com or the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home Facebook page.