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Ida Aline Rajotte
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FUNERAL HOME
417 E. Rodeo Road
Santa Fe, New Mexico
UPCOMING SERVICE
Visitation
Oct. 2, 2025
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Rivera Family Funerals & Cremations of Santa Fe and Santa Fe Memorial Garde
Send FlowersIda Rajotte Obituary
BRISTOL
Ida Aline Rajotte, a familiar face to visitors and residents of downtown Santa Fe for many years, passed away peacefully in her sleep early in the morning of Tuesday, September 16, 2025, just two months shy of her 95th birthday. Family and friends who were lucky to have known her will remember her for the abundant kindness, warmth, and joy that made you feel like you were the most special person in the world - because, to her, you really were.
Born in Bristol, Connecticut, to Lucien and Antoinette (Gagne) Rajotte, Ida attended boarding school in Nicolet, Qubec at the Collge Notre-Dame-de-lAssomption, from which she graduated in 1947. After moving to Santa Fe, Ida became famous among students at St. John's College for always ensuring a copy of the days Doonesbury strip was available on the dining hall sign-in table at breakfast, and she would often invite her favorite students over to her house for home-cooked meals.
Ida is survived by her brothers Marcel and Norman and their children; her sons David, Norman, and Paul and his wife Mary Jo; and her grandchildren Brandon and Bryan. She was pre-deceased by her daughter Gloria and son Michael.
In remembrance of Ida's life, the family encourages those who wish to express their sympathy to consider making a donation to the Harvey Cornell Rose Park in Santa Fe (https://wanderlog.com/place/details/1834955/harvey-cornell-rose-park).
Visitation will take place October 2, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Rivera Family Funeral & Cremations of Santa Fe, followed by a funeral service from 12:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memorial Events
for Ida Rajotte
Oct
2
Funeral services provided by:
Rivera Family Funerals & Cremations of Santa Fe and Santa Fe Memorial Garde417 E. Rodeo Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505
Memories and Condolences
for Ida Rajotte
Sponsored by Rivera Family Funerals & Cremations of Santa Fe and Santa Fe Memorial Garde.
6 Entries
Michelle, Steve and Ronnie Rajotte
September 30, 2025
Aunt "Cloud Hair" Ida will be missed! You were often a topic of conversation in our house, and Ronnie looked forward to receiving your letters. Your kindness had an impact on so many. We love you!
David Victor Lagasse
September 30, 2025
David Victor Lagasse
September 29, 2025
Greetings and Welcome to all ! I am Ida's son, Dave (70 years old and now living in northern California). For the past 12 years, it was my great pleasure to help Ida navigate her health issues and also to enjoy her life to the greatest extent possible in beautiful heart of the Southwest - Santa Fe, New Mexico.
"So, you ask me what were some of her wonderful qualities? Well, I am glad you asked !"
Most importantly, I would say that she was always very actively supportive of all her children's interests and abilities. This made us feel confident and independent as we faced the
challenges of our lives. It seemed to me that Ida was always curious, always willing to learn, not too proud to listen and learn new ideas, new ways of thinking, willing to change her mind if it was called for. Even in her eighties, she would read voraciously, sometimes easily going through 2 or 3 books per week ! She slowed down after 92 years old. I was astonished at her reading ability. Perhaps one of her biggest interests was human psychology - learning what makes people tick, including herself. The magazine Psychology Today was around the house and I remember reading it a lot during my high school years because of her. Although she very much valued the Great Teachings and Sayings of Jesus of Galilee, organized religion was just not her thing. Without having to be guided and coerced, she simply lived a very happy, productive and moral life. She gave of herself to others, she prayed to God for all her friends, every night of her life. She gave a lot of energy and love to many, many people, in a way that not many of us can or would. She didn't need organized religion to tell her what was
right and what was wrong. She did not like the way things are heading politically and morally during this dark time. So be it. Amen on that subject. An important thing to Ida was staying in contact with her many friends and relatives. I helped her comb through her old Connecticut address books and made updated contact info for her to use. She wanted to be sure to send yearly holiday cards and monthly birthday cards, anniversary cards and thank you cards as needed ! Many of you sent flowers and gifts that she always showcased. She used the phone and made video calls whenever possible. When she was just 12 years old, her father died unexpectedly of an acute abdominal issue. Nowadays, he would have survived it. She always said that he was 'a victim of the primitiveness
of the medical times' in the year of 1942. Her father's early death created chaos in her young life, as well as for her two brothers Marcel and Norman. Luckily, she had lots of love and care from her many Aunts, Uncles and cousins. Her wonderful mom Antoinette, wanted Ida to begin working and not go on to college, as she would have preferred. So, Ida's love of language, literature and the arts would have to coincide with her work life and then raising children, instead of college life. I always felt she could have been an artist (having seen her drawing skills), or perhaps a teacher of English or literature. But she focused on living life, raising her children and encouraged us to appreciate language and the arts and whatever else we wanted to pursue. Her favorite movies were: 'Out of Africa with Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, and 'The Bridges of Madison County' with Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood. We watched them dozens of times. Also Julie Andrews movies of The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins ( both masterpieces in my opinion). She loved the PBS TV drama series of Downton Abbey. We watched it many, many times. Her favorite flowers were: gardenias (for the fragrance) and calla lilies (for their form and texture). I did as much gardening as I could for her, as I would visit over the years. She would give me refuge in Santa Fe when California would bite too hard sometimes. Gardening in the desert of Santa Fe can be challenging, but luckily, she enjoyed many native plants like chamisa, that don't need a lot of water. The gophers ate a lot of her plants, but for many years she enjoyed the blooms of wisteria, lilacs, nepeta catmint, Jupiter's beard, desert hardy roses and she especially loved native grasses, they way they danced in the wind. When she wanted aspen trees, I planted one on the north side and one on the west side. She loved the way the leaves twisted and turned in the wind. They lasted about 30 plus years, but finally succumbed to old age. Many friends and relatives commented on trademark big 'poof' topping of white hair. This could help you identify her as she approached, or help you to find her in the grocery store ! Her niece Ronnie called her 'Aunt Cloud Hair', which she loved. Her first pet was a very benign female boxer dog named Misty. Misty was a real sweet heart of a dog and this was the first time that Ida felt comfortable around a dog. Misty seemed to act as Ida's protector.
Later on, the Shitzu-Poodle named Zoe was her faithful and loving companion. I will miss my dear sweet Mom, but I feel her watching over me and she will always be in my heart. I am glad you all got to know and love this wonderful woman named Ida Rajotte. Love, Dave
David Lagasse
June Gagne Korytko
September 28, 2025
Ida I have so many great memories of you when I was a kid. I named my most favorite doll after
you. Loved you and my doll that I still have. We had such a good time at our family gatherings on Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years Day. Although I haven't seen you in decades I think about you often. I know you're in heaven with all of our deceased family members. I'll see you again when God takes me. Love you. Your cousin June.
Timothy V. Michele
September 27, 2025
Aunt Ida, your love of life was Great, i see the house on Center St.daily and always say hi to yall. For years i dated a girl whose Mom raised her family there as well. You and the family are always in my mind. Now rest In the Higher Powers home,,,
DOMINIC A MICHELE Jr
September 27, 2025
Aunt Ida, I Had many good times and meals at your house as a child, you were always a loving aunt. May God keep you under his eternal care,,
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