Ella Marina Graham
Born August 22, 1956 in Washington DC
Core Identity & Purpose
Ella Graham has always described herself in three words: kind, creative, and fun. From her earliest years, she was drawn to the act of making — learning new techniques, experimenting with different materials, and shaping them into something meaningful. Nature and friendship continually inspired her, as did the desire to create for family and friends. Whether in her art, her home, or her garden, Ella found joy in the act of crafting beauty for those she loved.
She hoped that, when remembered, her life would be seen as one of responsibility and care: as a devoted daughter, a loving wife, a mother, and, in time, a patient caregiver for her parents and brother. Her sense of identity encompassed many roles at once — creator, teacher, caretaker, gardener, and artist. Even in her youth, babysitting for neighborhood children, she instinctively engaged with others at their level, nurturing them with creativity and play.
Roots & Early Influences
Ella’s story begins with a romance that sounds almost like a fairy tale. Her parents met on a voyage around Norway shortly after World War II. Her father, recently returned from service, encountered her mother while she was traveling with a friend. Two weeks later, they were married.
Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Arlington, Virginia, Ella grew up in a home shaped by the values of her Norwegian mother and Dutch-American father. Her father’s government career provided stability, while both parents emphasized European customs, education, and a household that was comfortable, respectful, and quietly conservative.
Childhood influences surrounded her: her parents, her siblings, and the traditions that tied them together. Birthdays and Christmas were deeply celebrated, and summers often meant trips to the beach. Early experiences in Washington museums and public gardens sparked her lifelong love of art and nature, while her mother’s skills in cooking, baking, sewing, and knitting planted the seeds of Ella’s own creative instincts. She spent many hours outdoors helping her father with chores and home repairs, learning by doing.
Travel added another layer of meaning to her upbringing. Ella visited Norway three times with her family. These journeys strengthened her sense of heritage and gave her firsthand encounters with European culture that would guide her outlook for decades to come.
Family & Legacy
Ella’s parents’ love story continued when her father brought his new wife across the Atlantic to start life together in the United States. Her mother’s journey, by ship past the Statue of Liberty, symbolized both courage and transformation. Their marriage endured faithfully until death parted them, a model of strength and devotion that Ella has carried within her.
Her inspirations extend across generations. She often spoke of her mother’s bravery in leaving her homeland and beginning anew, her grandfather’s academic curiosity and explorations, and the ways her son and daughter continue to inspire her. While her father focused on the present rather than retelling the past, her mother shared many stories of Norway — stories that became a living thread of family heritage.
The values instilled by her family were clear: to live with intelligence, observe carefully, act with common sense, and always strive to do one’s best. Ella internalized these lessons, learning to read people with sensitivity and applying that skill in her caregiving and relationships.
Turning Points & Challenges
Ella always dreamed of having a family. From her early days of babysitting, she delighted in caring for children, and this desire became her central calling in life. She devoted herself to raising her children and creating a nurturing home, rather than pursuing careers that demanded long hours away from them.
Life brought its challenges. She faced the reality of death with increasing acceptance, recognizing it as a natural part of life, even as she remembered how her own mother had struggled with it. Through difficulties, Ella leaned on her son Eric, who, since his teen years, offered strength and stability — “the unbreakable wall, the strong shoulder,” as she put it — and guided her through the unfamiliar world of new technologies.
Her greatest test came after thirty years of marriage, when she made the decision to leave her husband. Not long before, her father Fred had passed away, and Ella moved back into her parents’ home to rebuild her life. Under one roof she sheltered her brother Per, her daughter and grandson Jahkeem, and her son. In the midst of grief and transition, she discovered deep inner strength and an ability to adapt to changing times. This resilience became one of her defining qualities.
Life Experience & Place
For Ella, certain places resonated with her spirit. Tropical landscapes — lush greenery, beaches, and the sight of palm trees — gave her a sense of belonging. She vividly recalled the first time she saw palm trees in Daytona, Florida, describing it as an unforgettable vision. Orchids fascinated her as well, becoming symbols of delicate beauty and endurance.
Travel enriched her perspective, grounding her in heritage while broadening her appreciation of arts, cultures, and architecture. Though she never felt connected to big cities, she thrived in tropical, urban landscapes where the ocean and warmth defined daily life. Some sensations became time machines for her memories: the salty smell of the ocean, the sweet aroma of baking, and the joyous rhythm of waves.
Work, Craft, & Calling
Creativity was at the core of Ella’s satisfaction. She found joy in illustration and multi-media projects, jewelry-making with wire, glass, and gemstones, and in gardening — feeding the soil, watching plants flourish, and building a tropical paradise. Each activity was not simply a hobby but an extension of her personality, an outward expression of persistence and imagination.
Her professional life took her through many phases: freelance technical illustration, graphic work, teaching, sales, receptionist duties, and raising her children. With each role, she grew more outgoing and confident, carrying lessons from one chapter to the next.
For Ella, legacy was never measured in objects or accolades. Her children are her legacy — their unfolding lives a continuation of her story. She hopes to be remembered as a kind, thoughtful, and knowledgeable mother and daughter, someone who nurtured both people and the earth, leaving traces of beauty in gardens, in handmade creations, and in the hearts of those who knew her.