On Saturday morning, March 9, 2024, Peter Michael Graham went to his true home in Heaven. His last hours were spent in his parents’ arms as he peacefully passed away at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., with his grandmothers nearby.
Peter was born January 9, 2020, at Ascencion Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kan., to Doug and Kristen Graham of Girard, Kan. He was baptized by Fr. Floyd McKinney at St. Michael Catholic Church in Girard and attended regularly with his family when his health allowed.
Peter was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Edgar Henry Graham, Jr. of Uniontown, Kan., and Steven Francis VanLeeuwen of Brazilton, Kan., as well as an uncle, Christopher Andrew Graham. He is survived by his parents, his grandmothers, Nancy Sue Graham of Uniontown and Mary Deanne VanLeeuwen of Girard, and his five siblings: Gabrielle (11), Andrew (10), Elizabeth (8), Katherine (5), and Daniel (2).
Peter had been fighting a rare form of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) since March 2023. He will be greatly missed by his family as well as the medical professionals and support staff who had become such an important part of his life over the past year.
Peter was a loving and playful boy with a big smile and a mischievous sense of humor. He enjoyed mixing up his Play-Doh colors and conducting “experiments” with his slime. He loved Mickey Mouse, superheroes, and the stuffed animals that kept him company when he wasn’t feeling well.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 15, at the church hall at St. Michael Catholic Church. A rosary will follow at 7 p.m. for anyone who would like to participate.
Fr. Daniel Vacca will conduct a funeral mass at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 16, at St. Michael Catholic Church.
Burial will follow at St. Aloysius Cemetery at Greenbush seven miles west of Girard.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family, who intend to distribute the funds to organizations that provided support throughout Peter’s treatment, and may be left in care of Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home, 518 W. St. John St., Girard, KS 66743.