Paul Bennett Graham (1952 - 2021)

Born 15 Jul 1952 in Millville, York, New Brunswick, Canada

Ancestors

Died 19 Jan 2021 at age 68 in Mill Cove, Waterborough, Queens, New Brunswick, Canada

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Biography

Paul Bennett Graham, 68, of Mill Cove, NB, and formerly of Maple Ridge, NB, passed from this life into the arms of Jesus January 19, 2021. He was a resident at Mill Cove Nursing Home. Paul, son of the late Gordon and Nelma Graham, was born in Millville, NB July 15, 1952. At age two, Paul’s life was nearly taken by meningitis and his mental health inflicted (sic). We now realize that Paul, throughout his life, displayed autistic behavior characteristics. He was particularly organized and possibly had a photographic memory as he taught himself to play the piano within a few weeks. After hearing a song only once, he could play it in its entirety. Some of Paul’s early childhood loves included carrying/bouncing balls, browsing picture books, and riding his bicycle. His love for balls was evident the day he quickly disappeared. We went outside to discover he had dropped a ball into the covered well and had jumped in to get it. Fortunately, two separate layers of ice had formed in the well, and he fetched up on the second layer. Upon looking down at him, he was holding the ball in the air, so we formed a human chain to rescue it and then him! Another outdoor disappearance adventure led him to the railway tracks about a mile below the farmhouse. He was later located several miles away in Pinder where the tracks cross the road. Paul enjoyed a predominantly happy life on the family farm until his early teen years when mental health issues intensified which led him to rigid institutional care. The next ten years were terribly demeaning both physically and mentally until modern medication allowed Paul to return to a more stable way of life, living with his dedicated loving mother on the family farm. Within a few years, Paul became eligible for the residential living and work programs of Fredericton Jobs Unlimited. While there, Paul spent 27 happy years in a family home-like environment feeling the love and compassion of many dedicated caregivers and volunteers who made such a program possible. Paul felt very fulfilled and rewarded being part of the Fredericton workforce and at the end of the day enjoyed a home life washing dishes, cleaning floors, and performing other chores that rewarded his neat freak characteristics. When with Jobs Unlimited, Paul’s recreational life included playing his keyboard and Hammond organ, playing sports, cycling, swimming, attending various social events such as church, as well as making visits back to the family farm on Maple Ridge. During one of these home visits, he was baptized in the new baptismal fount at the Maple Ridge Wesleyan Church. When Paul’s physical and mental health took another blow, he spent approximately one to one-and-a half years in hospital receiving required health care while impatiently waiting for nursing home care admission. Mill Cove Nursing Home then came to Paul’s rescue. While there, he received nearly twelve years of loving quality care by staff who understood his unique characteristics and sometimes cranky moods. Dr. Haines and medical staff, Recreational Director Lynn, and personal caretakers Karen, April, Georgetta, Stephanie, and Nicole displayed to Paul and his family that he was indeed family at Mill Cove.^[1]

Buried Maple Ridge Cemetery, Maple Ridge, York, NB, Canada.

Sources

1. ↑ Obituary

• Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 28 January 2021), memorial page for Paul Bennett Graham (15 Jul 1952–19 Jan 2021), Find A Grave: Memorial #221424395, citing Maple Ridge Cemetery, Maple Ridge, York County, New Brunswick, Canada ; Maintained by Duane Crabtree (contributor 47432569) .
• "The Daily Gleaner" newspaper, Fredericton, NB, Canada- www.canadaeast.com. from mother's obit
• Source: S14 51- "The Daily Gleaner" newspaper, Fredericton, NB, Canada- www.canadaeast.com Italicized: YNote: from mother's obit

• Source: S6 69- Janice Morgan McHatten, 3122 Route 104, Middle Hainesville, NB, Canada E6E 1H8