Name: Calling hours for Michael John Raccuia
Start: 2016-09-30T21:00:00.000Z
End: 2016-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Billow's Funeral Homes & Crematory - Fairlawn Chapel

Michael John Raccuia

Michael John Raccuia, beloved husband and

father, passed away on Monday, September 26, 2016.

Michael was founder and owner of Michren Company, a commercial construction company started in 1984. As a contractor, he was known for his dedication, meticulous attention to detail, and estimation skills. He was born in Akron and grew up in North Hill. Michael graduated from Hoban High School and studied Business Administration at Walsh College before serving in the Army for six years. Michael enjoyed fishing, gardening, swimming in the ocean, and attending antiques auctions. He was a collector of rare antique firearms and a member of the Ohio Gun Collectors Association. His family was most important to him, and he was proud to take care of his wife

Karen during her illness.

Michael is preceded in death by his wife, Karen Raccuia; and his parents, Michael and Helen Raccuia. He is survived by his daughter, Lorraina (Bennett) Raccuia-Morrison; and his sister, Marie Raccuia; brother, Joseph (Joan) Raccuia; niece, Allison (Zachary) Raucher; nephew, James (Megan) Raccuia; and great-niece, Evelyn Raccuia.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 1 at Our Lady of the Elms Convent Chapel, 1230 West Market St., Akron, Ohio 44313. Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends may call at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd., Friday from 5 - 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Dominican Sisters of Peace Akron at the address above. To share a Memory, Send a Condolence, Light a Candle or Send Flowers, visit the Tribute Wall at www.billowfuneralhomes.com (Billow Fairlawn Chapel)

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Akron Beacon Journal from Sep. 29 to Sep. 30, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for Michael Raccuia

Sponsored by Akron Beacon Journal.

8 Entries

Michael Raccuia

January 1, 2017

My condolences to my sister and extended family.

September 30, 2016

So sad to hear of Mike's passing. We graduated from Hoban High together and were roommates during our freshmen year at Walsh College. Though I have not spoken with him in years we shared a lot of memories together many years ago. May he rest in peace and enjoy his eternal reward.

Vic Weigand
Pottstown, PA

September 30, 2016

So sad to read of Mike's passing. Graduated with him from Hoban and were roommates our freshman year at Walsh College. Though have not spoken to him in years we shared many memories together years ago. May he rest in peace and enjoy his eternalreward.

Bob Smith

September 29, 2016

Rest in piece brother. We will all miss you and your always cheerful voice and enspiring energy. It will live on in our memories ad our hearts. You are in a better place, and hopefully in peace.

Mike was a good man, and a good friend.

david gruccio

September 29, 2016

Certain memories of my life as an Italian american adolescent last century occasionally come back to me in my current life. My relationship with Michael during high school was one of those memories because having been born in North Hill as a child and growing up as a youngster with grandparents and parents in that area with numerous visits each week to the places where Italians took their children in those days I knew what events produced lasting cultural links to the Italian heritage that was a dominant force in my early life. I do not think his life was pivotal to my identity in these early years because in part I had not known him before meeting him at high school. Yet he turned out to be a young italian american adolescent not so different from my closer Italian friends. My memories of Michael were limited to the years he and I spent at high school not before and not afterwards for reasons that defy an explanation now. Since then I have studied the Italian language and have become knowledgeable about many parts of Italian history both current and recent. I do not k and now if he had done anything like that I do not know today if my connection to Italian heritage was any stronger or more defined than was MIcheals' connection to the same part of the world by way of our common lives in North Hill last century. I do wish today that I had explored that topic with him in greater detail. I recall that Michael's contribution to my knowledge was at first limited to the location of a street near the Italian Center. I believe that it was called Emma Street. When I heard its name I was curious so I went to the street map to find this street. In other words he did educate me about the location of many streets found on North Hill then. My family had taken me on many walking tours in North Hill on shopping sprees and and visits to other places that were central to the life of italian families at that time. Yes, I had become knowledgeable about North Hill streets by walking with my family. I knew about he Italian Center and Dayton Street. I knew about the famous Italian market on North Main street called Vitarella's and how to reach these places. I recall learning about the location of a street called Emma Street that I did not know last century before knowing Michael at high school. I believe that it was the location of his family home at that time. So these vital memories and links to the Italian american family with culinary and cultural connections to the Italian community in North Hill during last century bring me many happy feelings today. At high school I asked Michael to tell me where his family was living on North Hill. Emma Street was his answer. He was in some of my classes but I can not tell you which ones today. I do recall a conversation he had with me as we walked down the stair case leading to the original basement at the high school. Was he a close neighborhood chum at that time? Probably not since I did not see him after school. I do not think he was in my extra curricular activities. Much more could be said at this juncture but many years have passed. His life did not follow the path that I had taken for myself after graduation from high school. Some of our early conversations were I recall were about topics dealing with business or construction projects. I can not go into greater detail now. The name "Raccuia" stayed with me as an Italian name. That is what I can write now in this message of condolences. Such is life. I wish that i had more to say now. Condolences to his family today. Another notice might be following this one as I put together my memories.

DAVID GRUCCIO

September 29, 2016

I WISH THAT MICHAEL HAD SHARED WITH ME MORE DETAILS ABOUT HIS FAMILY'S ITALIAN HERITAGE WHILE I KNEW HIM AT HIGH SCHOOL. I CAN SAY THAT ABOUT MANY OF MY FRIENDS IN ADOLESCENCE. ITALIAN HERITAGE WAS NOT A HIDDEN OR FORBIDDEN TOPIC AT THAT TIME, BUT IT WAS NOT ALWAYS COFFEE TABEL CONVERSATION EITHER. I DO NOT KNOW HOW STRONGLY CONNECTED WITH ITALY HIS FAMILY WAS AT THAT TIME. IT WAS QUITE DIFFERENT TO BE AN ITALIAN AMERICAN THEN THAN IT IS NOW. THESE ASPECTS OF GROWING UP IN NORTH HILL ARE STILL WITH ME TODAY. I DID NOT KNOW MICHAEL BEFORE I MET HIM AT HIGH SCHOOL. MY MEMORY IS COLORED WITH THIS FACT NOW. WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT I DID NOT KNOW MICHAEL THAT WELL SO MANY YEAR AGO. SUCH WERE THE FACTS OF LIFE THEN. NOW I WISH THAT THEY HAD BEEN DIFFERENT FOR THESE REASONS. MY CONDOLENCES.

The Staff of Billow Funeral Homes

September 29, 2016

Offering our deepest condolences during this time.

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