On March 7, 2026, Viola passed away peacefully at home. On March 7, 1930, in Lanark, Kellits, in the Parish of Clarendon, Jamaica West Indies Joseph and Eudora Rochester was blessed with a daughter they named Viola Estina Rochester. She was the ninth of ten children to her parents. She was called Katie, but she was mommy, grandma or gigi to her daughter, grandchildren and great grandson. However, she was either called Aunt Katie, Mama Katie, Ma or Miss Katie by other family members or friends. She moved to Kingston, Jamaica West Indies at the age of 10 and lived with her Aunt Iva and her husband where she completed her primary and secondary education. Viola then went on to Beauty School and became a certified beautician after which she started her own beauty salon business that she operated for many years before migrating to the United States.

Viola met the love of her life, Oswald Graham, and got married in 1951. That union produced a daughter, Anna Maria, who currently lives in Yonkers, New York with her husband Errol, and they also

officially adopted Ivarine Rochester, who now resides in Florida. Throughout her life, she was the mother figure to a vast number of family members, but particularly to Winston, Eleanor, Joy and Karen whom she treated as her own.

She migrated to the US approximately 60 years ago and resided in the Bronx, New York for over 30 years before relocating to Port St. Lucie, Florida. She was also a mother figure to a lot of Anna’s friends who needed a home when they relocated to the United States to attend college and took them in with no questions asked. Viola was always available to offer motherly advice and guidance whenever she was asked.

She worked at New York Telephone Company, now called Verizon for over 26 years before her retirement. She loved bowling and even joined a bowling league, winning lots of trophies. She was a devoted Catholic and when she and Oswald moved to Florida, they attended the 6:15am Sunday mass at St. Lucie Catholic Church. If you happen to be spending the weekend, you have no choice but to get up and go to church. After Oswald passed in 2007, she didn’t go to church as often because she didn’t drive,

but she had friends who would come and accompany her to church.

Viola is survived by her daughters Anna Maria Davis and Ivarine McKenzie; grandchildren Damian, Kira, Kammi and Daniel; great grandson Philippe; son-in-law Errol; Damian’s wife Melissa; Kira’s husband Edward; and her unofficial children Winston, Eleanor, Joy and Karen; several nieces, nephews, and a host of family and friends, a list that would never end. We all mourn her loss.

VIOLA (KATIE) WILL BE FOREVER MISSED