Maria L. Rau

RAU Maria L. Rau, age 35, precious daughter of Dennis and Louise Rau of Milford, found heavenly peace on Friday, May 13, 2005. She departed this world suddenly of an accidental drowning at her home in Ahwatukee, Ariz. She was born in Windsor Locks, on July 13, 1969, and grew up in Milford before moving to Arizona to attend ASU. After surviving several serious accidents and four brain injuries, she dedicated the remainder of her years to assisting others. Her goal was to enhance and improve quality of life for disabled persons, specifically brain/spinal injuries. She had recently returned to Phoenix for proper neurological therapy at the Neuro Institute, and had a strong involvement in disabled offerings of the community. She was an avid cyclist for most of her life and dedicated her free time to charity fund-raising pursuing this passion. She used her first BS degree to work as a construction engineer, but returned to ASU in 2005 to complete her second BS degree in her true love, nutrition and dietetics. She is the beloved sister of Angela Booth and her husband, Darrin, of Orange, Dina Shulman and her husband, Scott, of Woodland Hills, Calif., Dennis Rau and his wife, Christina, of Canton, Ga., and Bonnie George and her husband, Craig, of Milford. She is also the adoring aunt of Natalie, Adam, Isabela, Will and Tyler. Maria was a beautiful soul that dedicated herself to God, family, education, and reaching out to anyone that was in need of a helping hand. Her radiance, strength, and endurance to live life will be dearly missed by all of us. Friends and family are invited to attend a 10 a.m. memorial service on Friday, June 17 at St. Agnes Church, 400 Merwin Avenue. Milford. Her internment will be private and at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions in her memory to: Rachel's Vineyard, Family Life Office, 238 Jewett Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06606.