Arlene “Dee Dee” Raica, age 49, of N7082 Connors Road, Munising, died at her home under the care of her family and Northwoods Hospice on Friday afternoon, June 29, 2007. She was born on December 6, 1957 in Dixon, Illinois to Robert and Beverly (Beaudry) Cotter. Dee Dee graduated from Dixon High School in 1976. She worked at a Chrysler Dealership in Dixon before moving to Munising in 1986. Dee Dee married David “D.J.” Raica on January 23, 1987. She worked at the Buckhorn for her aunt and uncle and then became an insurance agent at Mazzali’s for thirteen years. Dee Dee spent two years working at Das Gift Haus before Donna recruited her to go to work at the Pictured Rocks Boat Cruises in the gift shop. She was a member of Sacred Heart Church and loved her church. Dee Dee enjoyed riding her motorcycle, camping, and bird watching. She had an elegant and eclectic collection of birds (her favorite being the Blue Heron) that decorate her beautiful home. She and D.J. enjoyed their dachshund “babies” Oscar, Slim, and Molly. Dee Dee and D.J. loved spending quiet moments together walking the beach where she collected beach glass or sitting on their back deck enjoying the birds and garden pond.
Dee Dee is survived by her husband of over twenty years – D.J. Raica of Munising; her son – Chad Raica stationed in South Carolina in the U.S. Air Force; her parents – Bob and Bev Cotter of Munising; grandson – Aidan Sandy; brother – Terry & June Cotter of AuTrain; sister – Cheryl and Phil Arnold of Prophetstown, IL; stepchildren – Tasha, Nikki, and Jason Raica all of California; father-in-law – Ed Raica of Deerton; brother-in-law -Tom & Vickie Raica of Austin, MN; aunts and uncles – Janice & Terry Nolan and Lynn & Dick Beckwith all of Munising, Kris & Jeff Kouri of Colorado Springs, CO, and Melvin Beaudry of Milwaukee, WI; Miss Dee Dee’s godchild – Hailee Petosky; and numerous very special and dear nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Dee Dee was preceded in death by her uncle Shelly Beaudry and mother-in-law Lorraine Raica.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated by Father Chris Gardiner at Sacred Heart Church on Friday, July 6, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials in memory of Dee Dee may be directed to Northwoods Hospice of Alger County, Sacred Heart Church, or the National Audubon Society.
A message from Dee Dee’s family –“ Special thanks to Pam Nebel of Northwoods Hospice and Dee Dee’s dear friend Susan Cook for their tenderness, care, and friendship to not only Dee Dee, but also to us. We are forever grateful!”
