Nancy M. Raite

Nancy M. Raite, 82, of Camillus, passed away Monday, April 11, 2005 at St. Camillus Health & Rehabilitation Center. Born in Syracuse on Monday, June 5, 1922, she was the daughter of Salvatore and Margaret Spadaro. Nancy lived in Camillus for 54 years. She was a graduate of North High School and was employed by Raite Builders, Inc. in Camillus for 33 years. An enormous faith in God, Nancy was a daily communicant of St. Josephs Church and member of the Bereavement Committee. Following daily Mass, she would then go on to various church events and charities which rewarded her with great strength and joy. She truly had an essence of compassion and selfless humanity that she generated all through her life. Nancy would never say no to anything involved with helping people. She was a woman who would brighten the lives of her friends just by her generous spirit of always giving, while never expecting anything in return. Nothing mattered more to Nancy than family her husband, children and grandchildren. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, proud of her Italian heritage. Family and friends of Nancy have many fond memories of the holidays at her home. All the wonderful food and homemade cookies that she took hours to prepare. She had a great gift of soothing people with her fabulous cooking. Although she wasn't one to take the credit, everyone always raved about going to Nancy's for the holidays. Nancy also had an incredible zest for adventure, always ready for a roller coaster ride or a ride on her son-in-law's moped. Nancy stood tall in her honesty and integrity. She would laugh at life's absurdities, sometimes to the point of crying with laughter, but ended each and every day with her rosary and prayers. Nancy's memory will never be extinguished from our mind. We feel grateful to have known her. Surviving are her husband of 64 years, Joseph J. Raite; daughters, Elaine (Joe) Gombas of San Antonio, Texas, Joanne (Steve) Walliski and Mary Lou (David) Bird of Camillus; brother, Ralph Spadaro of Syracuse and grandchildren, Steven Gombas of San Antonio, Texas, Brandon Palmer of Camillus, Jill Gombas of San Antonio, Texas and Vanessa Z. Bird of Camillus and several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 14, 2005 at the Buranich Funeral Home, 5431 W. Genesee St., Camillus and at 10:30 a.m. in St. Joseph's Church where a funeral Mass will be celebrated. Friends may call Wednesday, April 13, 2005 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Entombment will be in Resurrection Chapel Mausoleum, St. Mary's Cemetery, DeWitt. Contributions may be made to St. Joseph's Church Human Development Fund, 5600 W. Genesee St., Camillus, NY 13031 or to St. Camillus Foundation, 813 Fay Rd., Syracuse, NY 13219.