Sumittra Graves

Sumittra Graves of Raynham, Massachusetts, and Pelham, New York, passed away peacefully on September 6, 2025, at the age of 89.

Born in Bangkok to Judge Pun Rajpricha and Charoen Ratchapreecha, Sumittra was the youngest of thirteen children. She was very proud to be the daughter of Judge Pun Rajpricha who was one of the Judges fir the King of Siam. She grew up in Bangkok, where she attended local schools before graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Bangkok. Following her graduation, she worked as a police officer and was in the first graduating class of female officers in Thailand. She worked there for two years before becoming a flight attendant with KLM.

At the age of 27, Sumittra immigrated to the United States. She deeply valued the freedoms of her new home and remained proudly patriotic throughout her life. She lived in California and Nevada before eventually settling in Massachusetts, where she later retired. While raising her three children, she worked as a floral designer, combining her creativity with her love of beauty.

Sumittra had many passions. She was an accomplished ballroom dancer who competed internationally, and she treasured the opportunities she had to travel the world. Of all the places she visited, Madrid, Spain, held a special place in her heart. She also enjoyed gardening, caring for animals—especially cats—and being actively involved in her church community.

Those who knew Sumittra will remember her as artistic, caring, and considerate, with a natural beauty inside and out. She was also strong, determined, and deeply devoted to her family and her country.

Sumittra is survived by her children George (Christine) Natvig of Fayetteville, NC; Alisha (Eric) Welsh of Pelham Manor, NY; and William Graves of Raynham, MA. She will be lovingly remembered by her eight grandchildren: Luke, Mitchell, Erik, Lydia, Garrett, Logan, Lorelei, and Emberlyn. She was predeceased by her twelve siblings.

A celebration of Sumittra’s life will be held on Wednesday, September 10, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Pelham Funeral Home, 64 Lincoln Avenue, Pelham, New York. For more information or to share condolences, please visit www.pelhamfuneral.com.