Dorothy Elizabeth Catherine Raha's Obituary
Ms. Dorothy Elizabeth Catherine Raha, age 76, of Spring Lake passed away peacefully surrounded by her family and loved ones on Wednesday, December 27, 2023. She was born January 26, 1947, in Grand Haven to Frank and Dorothy (Schuett) Raha. Dorothy was proud to be in the first graduating class of Spring Lake High School in 1965 and she was very active with her class in planning reunions and gatherings. She was respected and loved by her classmates with continued communication up until her passing.
As a youth at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Dorothy was very active in the church programs which carried over into adulthood. She loved her church and serving God. In 1966 she became the rectory housekeeper and later became the parish secretary. She taught religious education, and was part of the Rosary Altar Society, Women’s Club, and she was a loan officer and board member of St. Mary’s Parish Credit Union, and Grand Rapids Singles Club. Her focus in later years was establishing Christian service programs including the food pantry, funeral lunch ministry and CROP Walk. She was proud to be employed by the church and strived to help as many people as she could through all of these ministries.
Dorothy’s life centered around her family. She loved being with her nieces and nephews. She was a wonderful sister and a great aunt and a friend to many. She enjoyed having sleepovers, going on adventures, traveling, and always had time to share a story or watch a movie. She enjoyed cooking, hunting with her brother, Dan, and writing poetry. Dorothy just loved life. She was grateful to her parents for their great upbringing, and the values that were instilled into her life, as material things were not important. She loved nature and fought for conservation reform and protection of wetlands. Dorothy also worked 27 years for the VanZantwick Bartels Kammeraad Funeral Home doing various roles but was also a licensed pre-arrangement counselor and loved what she did. Dorothy retired from St. Mary’s parish in 2023 after 57 years of devotion to her church and love for her Blessed Mother and her son, Jesus.
Dorothy is survived by five siblings: Nancy (Bruce) Carter, Mary North, Claudia (Jan) Olsen, Theresa (Larry) Murphy, Tim Raha and adopted niece, Lillian Syn. She is also survived by nieces and nephews, to some of whom she is a Godmother, and by special cousins and many close friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Dorothy Raha and brothers, Frank (Christine) Raha and Daniel Raha, and niece, Megan Murphy.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 AM Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Spring Lake. Visitation will be 12:30 – 3:00 PM Saturday, December 30, 2023, at The VanZantwick Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 620 Washington Ave, Grand Haven, MI 49417 with a rosary at 3:00 PM Saturday and visitation an hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. Interment will take place in Spring Lake Township Cemetery. Memorial contributions in memory of Dorothy may be given to St. Mary’s Christian Service Fund. Please sign the family’s online guestbook at www.sytsemafh.com.
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