Nohema (Castillo y Castillo) Graber

NOHEMA (CASTILLO Y CASTILLO) GRABER

Fairfield

Nohema (Castillo y Castillo) Graber, age 66, departed this life at Chautauqua Park in Fairfield, Iowa, on Nov. 2, 2021.

Nohema was born in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, on Nov. 10, 1954, to Noe Castillo Aguilar and Maria Concepcion Castillo. She married Paul Graber on Oct. 4, 1986, in Xalapa, Veracruz.

After graduating from school, Nohema worked 17 years as a flight attendant for Mexicana de Aviacion. She also studied to be a commercial airline pilot and became one of the first women in Mexico trained to fly passenger jets. Nohema never lost her love of travel, a passion she passed on to her children.

Paul and Nohema moved to Fairfield in 1992 where they reared their family of three children. She became active in St. Mary Catholic Church and eventually attended Mass daily. Nohema's faith was always her guiding light, and she became a liaison between the parish and Fairfield's small, but growing Latino community.

As their children grew older, Nohema decided, in her fifties, to get a degree in English and a teaching certificate from Iowa Wesleyan University in nearby Mt. Pleasant. Her first job as a Spanish teacher was at Ottumwa High School, where she taught until 2012. From 2012 she worked as a Spanish teacher at Fairfield High School, where she became a fixture, loved by many students, parents and staff. She often received cards and letters from former students.

Nohema lived for her children, her family and her faith. Her next priorities were her job as a teacher and the students she taught, her parish and the Latin community in Fairfield. She also enjoyed reading and was an avid walker at Chautauqua Park. Nohema was very disciplined at getting her walking in each day and just loved being outside enjoying nature.

Nohema will be missed by Paul of Fairfield; her children, Christian Graber of Valencia, Spain, Jared Graber of Fairfield and Nohema Graber of Valencia, Spain; siblings, Jose Reyes Castillo Castillo of Houston, TX, Felipe Castillo Castillo, Alfredo Castillo Castillo, Heriberto Castillo Castillo all of Xalapa, Veracruz, and Maria del Socorro Castillo Castillo of Cancun, Mexico; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Noe and Concepcion; and one brother, Jose Rutilo Castillo Castillo.

There will be a public Prayer Service, Vigil for the Nohema at Fairfield High School Auditorium 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 9.

A private family service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Mary Catholic Church or Fairfield Park & Rec toward Chautauqua Park.

To share with the family a memory of Nohema Graber, please go to behnerfh.com.