Rafael E. Araya

Rafael Eduardo Araya Lara passed away on September 30, 2024, at his home in Macomb, Michigan at the age of 86. He was born October 24, 1937, in Limón, Costa Rica, to Miguel and Elisabeth Araya Lara.
Rafael grew up in Guadalupe, Costa Rica. He was an adventurous person who enjoyed Brazilian soccer, motorcycles, working with his father who was a boilermaker for the English railroad and being rebellious at times. After attending the University of Costa Rica, he wanted to expand his horizons to see what else there was out in the world, so he set out for a bigger journey.
As luck would have it, he was drafted into the military after arriving in the United States in 1962 and would proudly serve in the United States Army. Stationed in Anniston, Alabama, along with numerous other posts during the Vietnam War, he would go on to train and support some of the finest men and women of this country.
After being honorably discharged from the United States Army and Navy, Rafael relocated to Detroit where he met the love of his life, Nery. They settled in the community of Royal Oak, Michigan where they spoke, and continue to speak, of how wonderful it was to have such great neighbors and children for their sons to grow up with.
Rafael was a dedicated employee at Chrysler for 32 years working as a metal finisher and ding man. He worked on specialty vehicles for Lee Iacocca as well as performance and stunt vehicles for the movie industry.
Rafael loved to travel with his family to northern Michigan, taking every opportunity he had to use his trusty three burner Coleman stove to fry up some fish and spend some quality time around the campfire. His fondest memories are with his beloved travel companion, Nery, as they visited the southern United States, Canada, Morocco, Spain and going back to Nicaragua and Costa Rica to see their families with whom they dearly missed.
He loved sports, but he especially enjoyed watching international football, American football, baseball and hockey. His all-time favorite teams were the Santos Football Club of Brazil, and the Yankees. He was also a big Alabama football fan from the moment he arrived in the States up until the day he passed. Eventually, his sons corrected the Yankee flaw and converted him into a Detroit Tigers, Red Wings, Lions and Wolverine fan.
He also loved being a day trader, watching home improvement shows and tinkering around the house doing various things just to keep himself busy. He loved Nery's paintings and would help her when he could. He dearly loved his wife, sons, family and we can't forget his dog, Sheba. He was a proud veteran and loved his adopted country.
Preceding Rafael in death were his parents, Miguel and Elisabeth, his sisters, Emilce Araya Lara, Zoraida Araya Lara, Maria Eugenia Araya Lara, and brother, José Miguel (Esther) Araya Lara. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Nery, his treasured sons, Edward (Pam) and Ralph (Marlene) Araya, brothers and sisters, Roberto Araya Lara (Fabiola Vega de Araya), Belén Araya Lara (Rodolfo Asch), Mario Araya Lara (Maria Teresa Ramírez de Araya), Rodolfo Araya Lara (Flor Vargas de Araya), Elizabeth Araya Lara (José Luis Méndez), Enrique Araya Lara (Maria Elena Oviedo de Araya), Ricardo Araya Lara (Yamileth Castillo de Araya), Hernan Araya Lara (Eliza López de Araya), as well as many nieces and nephews.
Rafael will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Honors will be presented in his memory by the United States Army on Thursday, October 10, 2024, at Great lakes National Cemetery, Holly, Michigan, at 2:30pm. Friends and family wanting to witness the honors ceremony should plan on being at the cemetery promptly and early if possible.
Memorials are appreciated to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation or to the Wounded Warriors Project.