Raymond C. Graceffa

Raymond C. Graceffa, 86, of Rockford, passed away on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 in his home surrounded by his loving family. Born on February 13, 1924; the son of Frank and Anna (DeCarlo) Graceffa. Married Rosemarie Hughes on June 5, 1948 in Rockford, she predeceased him on July 29, 2004. Ray served in the U.S. Army from 1943-1945 in Africa, Italy, France and Germany. Attended Beloit College after WWII and was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. Ray co-owned and operated Graceffa & Sons Supermarket with his brothers and father beginning in 1969 until 1994. Ray was 3 rd Ward Alderman for 10 years, Deputy Director for 13 years at Rockford Housing Authority, Director of Winnebago County Housing Authority for 12 years, and serving on the Winnebago County Board for 13 years, retiring in 2007. Ray was a member of St. Bernadette Catholic Church where he was a Senior Associate as well as a 3 rd Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. And he served on the advisory board of Provena St. Anne Center.Survivors include his children, Thomas (Marianne) Graceffa and their children, Joseph Graceffa, Andrew (Suzanne) Graceffa, their children, Lucia, Natalia and Mariella; Dr. Sarah Graceffa(Adam Kallstrom Mary (Richard) Burruss and their children, Kelly (John) Rice, Erin Burruss, Collette (Charles) Yelm and their children, Katie (Michael) Sayler, their child, Hayden, MichaelYelm (Whitney Zink), Therese (Michael) Lattal and their children, Kimberly (Brett) Carson and their child, Crew Carson; Jeffrey and John Lattal; Christopher (Judy) Graceffa and their children, Thomas Graceffa and Anne Graceffa, Michael (Christina) Graceffa and their children, Abigail Graceffa, Natalie Graceffa and Eric Graceffa, Patrick (Rhonda) Graceffa and their children, Ryan Graceffa, Olivia Graceffa and Hannah Graceffa, Paul Graceffa and his children, Joseph Graceffa and Madiline Graceffa; sister, Crucifice "?Sis Sala; brother, Ben (Delores) Graceffa; and sister-in-law, Josephine Graceffa. Predeceased by his parents, wife, Rosemarie and brother, Peter Graceffa.Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00am on Saturday, May 1, 2010 at St. Bernadette Catholic Church 2300 Bell Ave Rockford. Burial in Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-8pm Friday, April 30 at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Riverside Chapel, 3910 N. Rockton Ave. Rockford, IL and from 9:00 10:00am on Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the family for a memorial to be established. To