Lena Raska

1938 - 2025

Lena Raska
12/31/1938 - 10/17/2025
Lena Orlando Raska passed away peacefully on Friday, October 17, 2025, at the age of 86. Lena was born on December 31, 1938, in Houston, Texas, to Michael Angelo and Mary Mallo Orlando. She was the seventh of eight children and grew up in the Fifth Ward off Lyons Avenue, near the Orlando family grocery store. Lena graduated from Jeff Davis High School in 1958, where she was a proud member of the Carlton Cadettes band and drill team. In June of 1960, Lena met her husband, Bennie. Their first date was a night of dancing, and it was love at first sight. The two married shortly after and shared 64 years of marriage. A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, Lena was known for her kindness, warmth, and deep Catholic faith. She was a longtime parishioner at Assumption Catholic Church for over 60 years, where she taught religious education classes and counseled engaged couples. Lena is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Bennie Raska; her parents and five of her siblings: Josephine Hughes, Lucille Oliver, Paul Orlando, James Orlando, and Michael Orlando Jr. She is survived by her three children: Cheryl Raska Webb and her husband Jeffrey Webb, Benjamin Raska and his wife Lynn (Freidrich) Raska, Steven Raska and his wife Paula (Zuckero) Raska; eight grandchildren: Madelyn Raska, Hannah Morris Raska and husband Cameron Morris, Alexandra Raska, Kathryn Raska Journeay and husband Hank Journeay, Isabella Raska, Johnathan Dudley, Phillip Raska, and Benjamin Raska Jr.; and one great-grandchild, Henry Morris. She is also survived by her sister, Elizabeth Robson, and her brother, Joseph Orlando. Lena will be remembered as a kind and loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
A celebration of Lena's life will be held with a visitation on Sunday, October 26, from 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. and Rosary Service at 5:30 p.m. at Earthman Resthaven, 13102 North Freeway. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, October 27 at 10:00 a.m. at Assumption Catholic Church, 901 Roselane Street. The Rite of Burial will be at 1:00 p.m. at Resthaven.
Pallbearers: Phillip Raska, Benjamin Raska Jr., Hank Journeay, Cameron Morris, Michael Orlando, Joseph Orlando
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Lena Raska to Assumption Catholic Church, 901 Roselane, Houston, Texas, 77037, Attention: Father Osas Onaiwu, CRS; or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a not-for-profit, section 501(c)(3); st.jude.org.