Doris M. (Nee Bedford) Rabasca

Doris M. Rabasca ( née Bedford), 93, died peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, May 18, 2017.

Doris' Life Celebration and visitation will be Sunday May 21st, from 2-4 and 6-8PM at Gray Funeral Directors, 318 E. Broad Street, Westfield. Her funeral service will begin at 10AM Monday May 22, 2017, at All Saints Episcopal Church, 559 Park Ave, Scotch Plains. To view her life tribute and to offer condolences, please go to: www.grayfuneralhomes.com.

Doris was born on August 14,1923, at home, in Irvington NJ to Viola and Melvin Bedford, where she
joined her older brother Raymond, all of whom have predeceased her.
She attended the Irvington public school system, and it was there in middle school that she became aware of upper class man and trumpeter Albert J. Rabasca, who would become the love of her life.
After graduating from Irvington HS she took a year off and worked for the Prudential " as a runner " before
attending Montclair State Teachers College as it was known then.
Doris earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in teaching, and took her first teachers position in New
Providence, NJ. She later taught in the Irvington school system and it was at that time that she became
engaged to Albert J. Rabasca. They married in 1952, and began their life together in Westfield NJ, moving to Scotch Plains in 1954, where they raised their family.
Doris was delighted to be a stay at home mother, but once her children were all of school age she
returned to teaching. As luck would have it there was a 3rd grade position open at Evergreen Elementary
School, in Scotch Plains, the very school her children attended and where she very happily continued to
teach until her retirement in June of 1994.
Doris was a warm, compassionate teacher who truly enjoyed being in the classroom and looked forward to working with each class of children who came her way. She was still receiving Christmas cards from
some of her former students as recent as this past year.
But the true love of her life was her late husband Albert J. Rabasca Sr., her children, grandchildren, and
great granddaughter. Whether attending a New Jersey Symphony Orchestra concert listening to
her husband play the trumpet, spending summers at the Jersey shore, or sitting on her deck watching her
grandsons swim in her pool, she was happiest when she was surrounded by her family. A warm, loving
mother, she happily led cub scouts and brownies, sung in the church choir at All Saints Episcopal Church
in Scotch Plains, taught Sunday school, hosted wonderful backyard birthday parties and always
acknowledged how fortunate and grateful she was. In January of 1978 Doris and Albert moved to Warren
NJ, and delightfully hosted many backyard parties by the pool and family holidays by a roaring fire.
Upon her husband's death in 1988, Doris took up the violin, and joined local orchestras, one of which she
traveled with to Washington DC to play on the steps of the capitol building. She also played at the fountain at Lincoln Center, NYC. It was also at this time that her grandsons began to come along and another chapter of her happiness began.
A devoted daughter, she also took care of both of her parents during their last years.
Doris is survived by her 3 children, daughters Barbara R. DiBonaventura (Peter), of Warren NJ, Carol
Rahner, (Scott), of Berkeley Heights NJ and son Albert J. Rabasca Jr. (Jerilynn) of Montclair NJ. She is also survived by 4 grandsons, Michael Rabasca (Meghan), of Cranford NJ, Paul Rabasca of Bloomfield NJ, Stephen Rabasca of Montclair NJ, Scott Rahner Jr. of Berkeley Heights NJ and a great granddaughter Angelina Marie Rabasca of Cranford NJ. She also leaves loving nieces and nephews in Maine and PA.
If you were loved by Doris Rabasca, you knew you were loved.