Genevieve (Setina) Graf

Genevieve Graf (nee Setina), age 97, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 in Pasadena, California with her loving family by her side.

Born May 10, 1921 in Joliet, Illinois and graduated from St. Francis Academy in 1938, Genevieve spent most of her secretarial career working with the administration of the University of Illinois Medical School and the Dean of the College of Commerce at the University of Illinois at Navy Pier, assisting in the creation of the new campus following World War II.  It was there that she met her future husband, then an instructor in the College.  Following her marriage in 1948, she worked at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa and the University of Chicago Medical School.  Genevieve pursued her college education throughout her working career and received her Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in 1972.  She subsequently taught social studies at the Academy of Our Lady in Chicago for fifteen years before retiring in 1988.  Genevieve moved to California in her later years to be closer to three of her sons.  She was a voracious reader, loved to go antiquing on a Saturday afternoon, prided herself on her eclectic style of interior decorating, and had a good eye for art. She loved her family, people-watching, traveling, and most of all spirited conversation with everyone she knew.

Preceded in death by her parents, Michael and Angela Setina; her husband, Henry H. Graf; her son, John M. Graf; and her sisters Beatrice (late Douglas) Krause and Dorothy (William) Scholtes,

Genevieve is survived by her children, Mark (Bettina) Graf, Kurt Graf, and Hugh (Donna) Graf; her brother Michael (Marilyn) Setina; her sister Joan (the late Walter) Kerwin; her daughter-in-law, Colette (Graf) Kelley; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

A celebration of Genevieve’s life will begin on Saturday, July 28, 2018 at Tezak Funeral Home, 1211 Plainfield Rd. Joliet, IL with  a visitation from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service to be held in the funeral home chapel at 12:00 p.m. Interment to follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Joliet.