Mary Ratti

Mary Elizabeth Ratti 1925-2011 BRATTLEBORO/VENICE, FLA. Mary Elizabeth "Mary Liz" (Coombs) Ratti, 86, of Wantastiquet Drive died at The Thompson House in Brattleboro on September 25, 2011, surrounded by her family, following a brief illness. Mary Liz was born in Brattleboro on May 19, 1925, the daughter of J. Carroll and Helen Mann Coombs. She was raised and educated in Brattleboro and was a member of the 1943 class at St. Michael's High School. She entered nursing school under the Cadet Nursing Corps Program and graduated from the New Rochelle School (New York) of Nursing in 1947 where she received her R.N. degree. She was employed at the New Rochelle Hospital as well as at the University of Michigan Hospital, Mary Fletcher Hospital in Burlington, Vt., and the Moore White Clinic in Los Angeles, Calif. She worked briefly at the Austine School and at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital upon her return from California in 1955. Mary Liz was a member of the Women's Evening Club, a volunteer at the Red Cross Blood Donation Center at the ELKS Home in Brattleboro and spent many years working with and supporting the Brattleboro Winter Carnival Queen's Pageant. She loved to swim and regularly combined her love of golden retrievers with her daily walking program. She was an avid reader and a devoted Red Sox (and Atlanta Braves) fan. On June 25, 1949, at St. Michael's Church, she was married to Robert J. Ratti, who survives. In addition to her loving and devoted husband of 62 years, she leaves her three children, Jo Carol Ratti and her husband Wayne Farrell, of Brattleboro, Casey Ratti and her husband Dr. Timothy Bicknell, of Ferrisburg, Vt., and Stephen Ratti, of Brattleboro; her three grandsons, Michael Ratti, of Waltham, Mass., and Brattleboro, Vt., and Maxwell and Robbie Bicknell, of Ferrisburg; one brother, Joseph C. Coombs and his wife Fran, of Brattleboro; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins, including Jerry Remillard of Putney, Vt. She was predeceased by her brother, Charles Coombs, in 1967. The Ratti Family would like to thank Dr. Martina Sczesny and her staff as well as the staff at The Thompson House for their care and comfort. FUNERAL NOTICE: The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Church with the Very Rev. Richard O'Donnell, V.F., pastor, celebrant. Friends are invited to call at the Atamaniuk Funeral Home on Friday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made in Mary Liz's honor to The Thompson House, c/o Lisa Kemp, 80 Maple Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301 or to The Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To sign an online register book with messages of condolence please visit www.atamaniuk.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Atamaniuk Funeral Home Inc.