Sister Jacqueline Graham, PBVM

Sister Jacqueline Graham, PBVM, (religious name Sister Mary Amata) entered eternal life on December 11, 2020 at the Presentation Motherhouse in San Francisco. A native of Berkeley, California, Sister Jacqueline was born in 1931 and was the sixth generation of her family to live in California. Sister was predeceased by her loving parents, Lorette Roumiguiere and Robert Graham, and by her sister, Andree. She now leaves devoted nieces, nephews, their families, as well as her loving Presentation Sisters and Associates.

Sister Jacqueline earned her BA degree in Education at San Jose State University and an MA in Education at the University of San Francisco. Using this preparation, she taught 35 years in Catholic elementary schools in San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland, San Jose, Gilroy, San Pedro, Los Angeles, Montebello, and Menlo Park. She also worked in environmental education at Montezuma Ecology Center at Presentation Center, Los Gatos, California.

From 1983 to 1990, Sister Jacqueline worked at Green Acres, Mountain View, CA, a home for children with disabilities. Following that, she was a special education aide in Santa Clara County Schools and eventually worked as the music director for ZigZag Railroad Children’s Theater, San Jose.

During her summers, Sister Jacqueline used her talents in the arts and her deep interest in nature studies to instruct others.

Her desire to always be of service also brought her at the request of the Diocese of Juneau, Alaska, to provide religious education and to visit homes in logging camps or settlements there. At another time, she responded to a request by a Presentation Missionary Sister to go to Guatemala to illustrate a children’s catechism.

Experiencing nature through backpacking, photography and art led her to publish two works of prose, prayer and art, Earthtouch and Life Cycle. Her great love of all of the arts, especially music, also brought her to join the San Jose Symphonic Choir. Due to COVID-19 protocols, a Memorial Service celebrating Sister Jacqueline’s life will be private. Memorial contributions to the Sisters of the Presentation are preferred and can be sent to Sisters of the Presentation, Development Office, 281 Masonic Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94118.