Elaine Ratzer

Elaine was a loving wife to Bill and a loving mother to daughter Shannon (David Lubin) and son Tony (Allen) and grandmother to Zenny, Zion, and Zuri and Scott. She is survived by her husband, her two children, their spouses, sisters Debi (Jeff) and Nancy (Keith), sister-in-law Pam (Ralph), brothers-in-law Larry (Marla), Joe (Becky), John (Sarah), Jon (Chiu Min), and David (Cynthia) nieces and nephews Nick (Kathleen), Laura (Nick), John (Valerie), Kirstie (Kevin), Jennifer (Eric), Jessica (Wade), Dan, Jennifer (Matt), Ashley, and Christie (Matt) and dear friends Linda, Mew, Dorothy, and Nina. She was preceded in death by her mother Ruby. Elaine loved music and loved to dance and sing. She enjoyed going with Bill to see local talent at the Upper Deck and the Old '97, she was always interested in new artists and music and was a fan of WAPS The Summit. She was a Pilates enthusiast with a hippie streak who loved flowing peasant blouses, Thai curry, and taking care of her adoring English Cocker Spaniel, Riley. Elaine retired from the Akron Public School system after 33 1/2 years of service, most of those spent in Library Media Services. She had a circle of friends there with whom she enjoyed group dinners and laughter for many years (Vicki, Penny, Mary, Becky, Rae-Jean, and Barbara). To be loved by Elaine was to be nurtured, cared for, and accepted. Elaine knew the healing power of a good meal --she opened her home, created beautiful holidays, and shared from-scratch potato salad, spaghetti and meatballs, German chocolate cake, and cranberry salad with family, friends, her children's friends, and anyone who had the pleasure of knowing her. Elaine fought her way through numerous health challenges throughout the years. She gave her best fight and can now rest and be in peace as we cherish our memories of her.
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