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ENLARGE
Patty Raaf
On a beautiful Sunday in Snowmass Village, devoted daughter, wonderful sister, gifted teacher, and citizen of the world, Patricia J. Raaf, was remembered in a vigil service at the Snowmass Chapel. Patty was also remembered in a funeral Mass celebrated September 22 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Aspen. She died September 16 at home while surrounded by the love of family, friends and Monsignor Tom Dentici.
Patty’s great devotion led her to spend the last five years of her life caring for her parents, Jim and Angela Raaf of Snowmass Village, making great personal sacrifices so that her parents could continue living in the home they loved. Caring for her parents was the greatest joy of Patty’s life, and she did so with extraordinary dedication.
Patty was also a citizen of the world. Born in Santiago, Chile, on April 6, 1958, she lived there until moving to Ecuador in 1965. In 1967 she moved to La Paz, Bolivia. She graduated with a BA in Education from St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Ind., in 1981 and continued her studies toward a Masters in Special Education in California. She taught children in the primary grades in California, Bolivia, Columbia, Mali, Ethiopia, and Brazil. A supremely gifted teacher, Patty loved her students as though they were her own children.
She also loved, respected, and deeply understood the people and the cultures in which she lived and visited. In addition to English she spoke Spanish, Aymara (an Andean Indian language), German, French, and Portuguese.
Patty filled the lives of those around her with laughter, joy, high spirits, and love. She was a spark in every gathering. You never knew what was going to come out of her mouth. Her smile filled a room; the gleam in her eye brightened it. During her lengthy illness, Patty found great comfort in reading their messages on www.thestatus.com that tracked her health.
Throughout her illness, Patty faced a difficult situation with courage, stubbornness, and abiding good humor. She will always remain an inspiration to her family, friends, and students.
Patty is survived by her parents, Jim and Angela Raaf, and her sisters and brothers in law, Angie and Jochen Widdel, Barbara and Rainer Wolff, Maria Elena and Scott Medlock, her twin Pam and Ivan Prince, and Susie Raaf, as well as all her nieces and nephews. Gifts may be sent in memory of Patricia Raaf to UNICEF, the Christian Children’s Fund, or the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Patty’s great devotion led her to spend the last five years of her life caring for her parents, Jim and Angela Raaf of Snowmass Village, making great personal sacrifices so that her parents could continue living in the home they loved. Caring for her parents was the greatest joy of Patty’s life, and she did so with extraordinary dedication.
Patty was also a citizen of the world. Born in Santiago, Chile, on April 6, 1958, she lived there until moving to Ecuador in 1965. In 1967 she moved to La Paz, Bolivia. She graduated with a BA in Education from St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Ind., in 1981 and continued her studies toward a Masters in Special Education in California. She taught children in the primary grades in California, Bolivia, Columbia, Mali, Ethiopia, and Brazil. A supremely gifted teacher, Patty loved her students as though they were her own children.
She also loved, respected, and deeply understood the people and the cultures in which she lived and visited. In addition to English she spoke Spanish, Aymara (an Andean Indian language), German, French, and Portuguese.
Patty filled the lives of those around her with laughter, joy, high spirits, and love. She was a spark in every gathering. You never knew what was going to come out of her mouth. Her smile filled a room; the gleam in her eye brightened it. During her lengthy illness, Patty found great comfort in reading their messages on www.thestatus.com that tracked her health.
Throughout her illness, Patty faced a difficult situation with courage, stubbornness, and abiding good humor. She will always remain an inspiration to her family, friends, and students.
Patty is survived by her parents, Jim and Angela Raaf, and her sisters and brothers in law, Angie and Jochen Widdel, Barbara and Rainer Wolff, Maria Elena and Scott Medlock, her twin Pam and Ivan Prince, and Susie Raaf, as well as all her nieces and nephews. Gifts may be sent in memory of Patricia Raaf to UNICEF, the Christian Children’s Fund, or the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
