Mary Louise Graeber

Graeber, Mary Louise (age 88) of Broomfield, Colorado (Anthem Ranch) passed away peacefully at her son’s home in Omaha, Nebraska on August 4, 2023, yielding to time.  She was cared for and surrounded by her many loved ones for the last 45-days of her life….a very happy and serene transition to Heaven. Mary was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 1, 1935, to Fred Charles Sanders and Ethel Mary (White) Sanders.

Mary spent her early years in Tulsa and enjoyed a very happy childhood.  Her fondest memories included: taking family driving vacations every summer…while playing with dolls in the back seat with her sister, eating watermelon on hot summer nights, and watching Oklahoma thunderstorms from her front porch.  Mary attended one semester at Will Rogers High School in Tulsa before moving to Denver with her parents who endeavored to build the Branding Iron Hotel on East Colfax.  She attended Cathedral High School in Denver where she met the love of her life, John “Jack” George Graeber.  Mary and Jack both graduated from Cathedral in 1953. They were married on November 26, 1955.  They moved around quite a bit in their early years living in Barstow, California; Tahlequah, Oklahoma; Brady, Texas and then back to Denver.  In 1967 they moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota and remained there for 39 years.  In 2006 they decided to spend their remaining years back home in Denver.

Mary loved her family and was the quintessential homemaker.  She was a very loving, caring, supportive and nurturing wife, an excellent mother to her three children, and beloved grandmother to her five grandchildren.  She was also an adored aunt by her nieces and nephews…and to their children.  She made Christmases magical and all birthdays special.  Mary loved to cook and was excellent at it…with a flair for southern cuisine.  She made a mean batch of fried chicken with homemade hot rolls and gravy.  Mary was probably best known, however, for her generosity and sweet demeanor.  She dedicated a lot of her volunteer time to the Ambassador nursing home in New Hope, Minnesota.  She faithfully supported numerous charities and gave extraordinarily to her family members.  Mary also loved to entertain and was very sociable.  Her and her friends in Anthem Ranch got together almost every afternoon for “Happy Hour”.  She will be deeply missed by all her family and friends who knew her and loved her!