Patricia L. Niebuhr Obituary 2026 - Grafton, NY

Patricia L. Niebuhr died on October 27, 2026, in Grafton, New York. Born in Chicago on December 6, 1934, she was the eldest daughter of Doris Fulmer and William Martin. She was predeceased by brothers Kenneth and William and is survived by sisters Colleen and Sharon. The couple had three children: Sheryl (Steven Bernhard), Liesa (the late Stephen Kelley), and Jay (Jessica DiFrisco). She leaves eight great-grandchildren and was a grandmother to Jessica, Matthew, Sarah, Bennett, Grace, and Michael.

Niebuhr worked at the University of Wisconsin until 1957, when her first child was born. In the 1970s, she became a sales manager for Country Epicure, a bakery specializing in European cakes and pastries. She was known for her baking, particularly her apple and rhubarb pies and the Martin chocolate cake. In 1991, she and Kenneth built a retirement home on Taconic Lake in Grafton, where they lived for 30 years. They moved to Shaker Pointe, a senior community in Watervliet, New York, in 2021.

Community Roles and Legacy

Niebuhr was active in local organizations, including the Taconic Valley Garden Club, Grafton United Methodist Church, and the Grafton Historical Society. In 2010, she became the Town Historian for Grafton. She also served as a Sunday school teacher, a Girl Scout leader, and a bridge group member in Yorktown Heights, New York. She was described as a “very sociable lady” who made “many wonderful friends.”

Final Years and Services

A private service for immediate family members was held in her memory. Donations may be made to the United Methodist Church at Berlin (P.O. Box 225, Berlin, NY 12022) or the Grafton Historical Society (P.O. Box 244, Grafton, NY 12082). More details about her life are available in the official obituary.

Keep reading