In Loving Memory of Michele Virginia Frasca-Raffoni
Michele Virginia Frasca-Raffoni passed away peacefully, leaving behind a legacy defined by compassion, generosity, intellect, and unwavering devotion to others. Born on June 2, 1943, in Beverly, Massachusetts, Michele carried the values of her hometown—hard work, kindness, and community—throughout her life, even as her journey took her across the country.
Michele was a proud graduate of Beverly High School, Class of 1960. Her love of learning and commitment to education led her to earn a Bachelor's Degree from California State University, Long Beach, followed by a Master's Degree in Teaching from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. Education was more than a career for Michele—it was her life's mission and her greatest gift to the world.
For more than 25 years, Michele served as an English teacher and Reading Specialist, teaching at Whaley Junior High School in Compton, McAuliffe Middle School in Los Alamitos, and later Laurel High School in Los Alamitos, California. She approached teaching with creativity, purpose, and heart. She developed meaningful field-trip programs, brought distinguished guest speakers into her classrooms, and consistently challenged her students to see beyond their circumstances and believe in their potential.
Michele was not only an educator, but a mentor and advocate. She encouraged countless students to pursue higher education—often helping in ways few ever knew, including personally paying for college textbooks when needed. Many of her former students continued to remember and reach out to her decades later, grateful for the guidance, encouragement, and belief she gave them during formative years of their lives.
Her compassion extended well beyond academics. Michele founded an Infant Care Center to support teenage parents, working closely with community organizations and local businesses to secure donations of baby carriages, clothing, and essential supplies. She taught her students the importance of empathy, service, and responsibility—not through words alone, but through action. To her schools and communities, she was a quiet force of good; to her students, she was a steady and life-changing presence.
Outside the classroom, Michele embraced life with enthusiasm and grace. She loved to travel, read, garden, and cook, and found great joy in bringing people together. Her home on beloved Balboa Island, California, was a place of warmth, laughter, and celebration, where she hosted family gatherings, holiday traditions, and joyful boat-parade parties that became treasured memories for all who attended.
Michele remained physically active throughout her life, enjoying long walks and time on her stationary bicycle. Her determination and spirit were exemplified when she completed a half marathon in her sixties—an accomplishment she approached with humility and pride.
A woman of deep faith, Michele was a devoted parishioner of St. John Vianney Chapel on Balboa Island, where her spiritual life provided strength, comfort, and community. Her faith guided her compassion and reinforced her lifelong commitment to service and kindness.
Michele was predeceased by her beloved husband, Charles Andrew Raffoni, and by her parents, Dr. Michael John Frasca and Natalina (DiNardo) Frasca. Their memory remained close to her heart throughout her life.
She is survived by her loving family: son, Peter Guyer; brothers Peter Frasca, Stephen Frasca, and John Frasca; sisters Christine Gagne and Julie Shelton; grandsons Perrin Guyer, Quentin Guyer and Lucas Guyer; as well as numerous nephews and cousins.
Michele will be remembered as a devoted educator, a generous mentor, a gracious hostess, a faithful parishioner, and above all, a loving presence to those fortunate enough to know her. Her life's work lives on in the countless students she inspired, the families she helped, and the love she shared so freely. She leaves behind a legacy of service, compassion, and enduring impact that will continue for generations.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Michele's memory to the Alzheimer's Association or Autism Speaks.
Michele Virginia Frasca-Raffoni passed away peacefully, leaving behind a legacy defined by compassion, generosity, intellect, and unwavering devotion to others. Born on June 2, 1943, in Beverly, Massachusetts, Michele carried the values of her hometown—hard work, kindness, and community—throughout her life, even as her journey took her across the country.
Michele was a proud graduate of Beverly High School, Class of 1960. Her love of learning and commitment to education led her to earn a Bachelor's Degree from California State University, Long Beach, followed by a Master's Degree in Teaching from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. Education was more than a career for Michele—it was her life's mission and her greatest gift to the world.
For more than 25 years, Michele served as an English teacher and Reading Specialist, teaching at Whaley Junior High School in Compton, McAuliffe Middle School in Los Alamitos, and later Laurel High School in Los Alamitos, California. She approached teaching with creativity, purpose, and heart. She developed meaningful field-trip programs, brought distinguished guest speakers into her classrooms, and consistently challenged her students to see beyond their circumstances and believe in their potential.
Michele was not only an educator, but a mentor and advocate. She encouraged countless students to pursue higher education—often helping in ways few ever knew, including personally paying for college textbooks when needed. Many of her former students continued to remember and reach out to her decades later, grateful for the guidance, encouragement, and belief she gave them during formative years of their lives.
Her compassion extended well beyond academics. Michele founded an Infant Care Center to support teenage parents, working closely with community organizations and local businesses to secure donations of baby carriages, clothing, and essential supplies. She taught her students the importance of empathy, service, and responsibility—not through words alone, but through action. To her schools and communities, she was a quiet force of good; to her students, she was a steady and life-changing presence.
Outside the classroom, Michele embraced life with enthusiasm and grace. She loved to travel, read, garden, and cook, and found great joy in bringing people together. Her home on beloved Balboa Island, California, was a place of warmth, laughter, and celebration, where she hosted family gatherings, holiday traditions, and joyful boat-parade parties that became treasured memories for all who attended.
Michele remained physically active throughout her life, enjoying long walks and time on her stationary bicycle. Her determination and spirit were exemplified when she completed a half marathon in her sixties—an accomplishment she approached with humility and pride.
A woman of deep faith, Michele was a devoted parishioner of St. John Vianney Chapel on Balboa Island, where her spiritual life provided strength, comfort, and community. Her faith guided her compassion and reinforced her lifelong commitment to service and kindness.
Michele was predeceased by her beloved husband, Charles Andrew Raffoni, and by her parents, Dr. Michael John Frasca and Natalina (DiNardo) Frasca. Their memory remained close to her heart throughout her life.
She is survived by her loving family: son, Peter Guyer; brothers Peter Frasca, Stephen Frasca, and John Frasca; sisters Christine Gagne and Julie Shelton; grandsons Perrin Guyer, Quentin Guyer and Lucas Guyer; as well as numerous nephews and cousins.
Michele will be remembered as a devoted educator, a generous mentor, a gracious hostess, a faithful parishioner, and above all, a loving presence to those fortunate enough to know her. Her life's work lives on in the countless students she inspired, the families she helped, and the love she shared so freely. She leaves behind a legacy of service, compassion, and enduring impact that will continue for generations.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Michele's memory to the Alzheimer's Association or Autism Speaks.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Michele Virginia Frasca-Raffoni, please visit our flower store.
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