Helen Loretta Raiff

Helen Loretta Raiff, age 91, of Park Village Health Care Center at Dover, and a lifelong resident of New Philadelphia, died peacefully early Saturday afternoon, February 28, 2009, in Union Hospital. Born at New Philadelphia, June 16, 1917, she was a daughter of the late Grover and Christine Swope Kennedy. Helen grew up in New Philadelphia and attended school there before going to work at the former Quaker Restaurant for several years. Helen’s happiest moments were spent cooking and on holidays with a home full of family. In warmer months, Helen enjoyed camping and fishing. In her younger years, she was known for her talent on the dance floor. On April 15, 1938, Helen married Robert S. Raiff. For most of the remainder of her life, Helen was a homemaker, rearing three sons and a daughter; Robert G. “Gary” (wife Carol) Raiff of Northfield Center, Ohio, Cheryl C. (husband Pete) Tope of Roswell, Thomas M. (wife Teena) Raiff of New Philadelphia, and Steven P. (wife Becky) Raiff, of Springfield, Ohio. She’ll be sadly missed by thirteen grandchildren, twenty-nine great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, two sisters; Ruth Hiller of Niles, Ohio, Jane Downing of Dover, and a brother; Grover “Fuzzy” Kennedy, also of Dover, who completes the family. Helen is preceded in death by her husband, Robert, who passed away January 17, 1988, just months before their golden wedding anniversary. In addition, she is preceded in death by her two sisters; Dorothy Davis, and Margaret Henry, and a great-granddaughter; Lauren Raiff.Friends are invited to call Tuesday, March 3, from 4PM â?? 7PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. The Rev. Dr. Steven R. Bailey will lead a service celebrating Mrs. Raiff’s life Wednesday afternoon, March 4, at 1:30 in the funeral home’s chapel. Burial will follow in East Avenue Cemetery. Following the committal service, a luncheon will be served in the Geib Family Center, adjacent to the funeral home. The Raiff family requests that memorial contributions be made to the American Diabetes Association, Akron Area Office, 1815 West Market Street, Suite #108, Akron, OH, 44313. Linn-Hert-Geib(330)343-5506www.geibcares.com