Janet L. Graves

Janet L. (Ash) Graves, 89, of Bedford, passed away peacefully at the Granite VNA Hospice House in Concord. She is the loving wife of the late Donald E. Graves with whom she shared 58 years of marriage. 

Janet was born on Sept 15, 1934 in Concord, the daughter of Willis and Bertha Ash. She owned and operated "Janet's Nursery School" in Concord for 18 years. She then went to work for the State of NH for 12 years before retiring.

Janet was an active woman who loved being involved in her daughters’ activities. She was a girl scout leader during the school year then became leader and director of three scout camps in the summer: Hannah Dustin Day Camp in Bear Brook State Park, Camp Windsheblow in Laconia, and Camp Kettleford in Bedford.

What Janet loved the most was spending time with her family at the camp her husband built on the waterfront of Highland Lake in Washington, NH.

Janet, along with her husband, enjoyed three styles of dance which included square dancing, round dancing, and eventually line dancing. Together they formed the Granite State Square & Round Dance Club and performed demos at various fairs and community events. Later on she and Don moved to Florida where they continued teaching line dancing for several years before returning to NH.

Janet is survived by her daughters, Sandra Estes of Chichester and Anne Valence and her husband Jacques of Pittsfield, 11 grandchildren, and several great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She also has a half-sister Lois Jordan that lives in Arkansas. 

She is predeceased by her husband Donald, her sister Margueritte Archambeault, her brother Lawrence Ash, and three half-brothers Willis Ash, Lloyd Ash, and George Ash.

A visitation will be held on Friday August 9th from 10:30-11:00am at The Phaneuf Funeral Home on 243 Hanover Street in Manchester. A funeral service will follow at 11:00am in the funeral home chapel. Interment at St. Augustin Cemetery on Beech Street in Manchester. Family and friends are kindly invited to attend.