Obituary of Marianne F. Raftis

Mom passed away peacefully on May 29, just a month shy of her anticipated 96th birthday on July 5, with all of her loving children at her side. Mom was pre-deceased by her husband Robert in 1989 and daughter Pam ( Dan ) Green just last July 3. Mom is survived by her remaining five children: Pat (the late Skip ) Pacatte, Peggy Raftis, Penny ( Phil ) Sharrow, Mike Raftis and Marty ( Lisa ) Raftis. Also, one nephew Fox (Roseanna ) Madsen , 13 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren, numerous Raftis, Moore and Ward relatives. Mom was affectionately known as “Heart” by her loved ones, a nickname resulting from her first grandchild attempting to reply to her loving references to him as “Sweetheart” …as they say : “from the mouths of babes”, no name could have been more appropriate. Mom was all about family and was so proud of the progeny that she and Bob produced; she had every right to be proud because she molded us all in her image. We couldn’t have asked for a superior template to shape our characters. She was one of the oldest members of the First Baptist Church of Owego. Mom graduated from Gloversville High School at the age of 16, from Green Mountain Junior College in 1938 and Hartwick College in 1940. Despite the workplace potential of someone with her intelligence and academic preparation, she deferred starting her teaching career in order to stay at home and impart the proper influence upon her young family. Despite her hiatus from academia, Mom bravely entered the workforce in 1959 at the age of 40 in the business department at Owego Free Academy. She would eventually earn a Masters Degree in Education from SUNY Albany in 1964, matriculating with students nearly half her age, and soon rose to the position of Chairman of the OFA Business Department, where she became known to her colleagues as “Chief”. Mom had an inspirational demeanor to her teaching style and, although known to be stern with the rascals, it was amazing that, in the years after her retirement in 1982, she was often approached by rascals and brown-nosers alike with beloved expressions of thanks for her efforts and influence on their development. In later life, Mom and her sister Cay did an extensive genealogical research project that qualified them for admission into patriotic societies such as the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Daughters of American Colonists, the Daughters of Indian Wars and the Society of New England Women. At various times, Mom held state-level Regent posts and enjoyed researching and presenting interesting programs at the meetings. Mom was an old-school patriot. At parades she would hoist herself up out of her lawn chair and come to attention on her two arthritic knees, hand-over-heart, to show her respect for the passing American flag. Mom was a member of several bridge club groups over the years but I think her favorite pass-time was just sitting at her kitchen table and enjoying the squirrel and bird show out the bay window, an entertainment she facilitated for herself by religiously distributing bread crumbs and birdseed for her feathery and furry friends each day. So, what kind of person was Mom ? There are many generous adjectives that could be used to describe her kind and loving spirit but, for those who knew her, no such words are necessary, nor would they suffice. Let’s face it, whenever you come back from wherever you’ve been, you’re never really home until you’re in the same place as your mother. Mom, we missed you before you died in the knowledge of what was bound to happen; we miss you even more now that it has happened and look forward to the time when you will welcome us home again when it’s our time to re-join you. Funeral Services will be held on Monday, June 1, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. at the Estey, Munroe & Fahey Funeral Home, 15 Park St., Owego. The family will receive friends Monday from 3:00 to 5:45 p.m. prior to the services at the funeral home. Interment will follow on Tuesday, June 2, at Bramanville Cemetery in Howes Cave, NY at 1 PM. In Lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Owego Fire/Emergency Squad, P.O. Box 22, Owego, NY 13827 or the New England Kurn Hattin Homes, P.O. Box 127, 708 Hattin Road, Westminster, VT 05158. Condolences may be made to Marianne’s family at www.emfaheyfuneralhome.com.