Obituary of Raymond J. Wiest
Raymond Wiest, our much loved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather peacefully passed away December 29th, 2024. His family members were very much present as he slowly slipped away to a place where he will be reunited with the loved ones he lost.
Ray was born on June 23, 1927 on Staten Island, N.Y. to Bernard and Emma (Cosulich) Wiest. He was the youngest of 3 siblings and was very close to his brother Bernard a.k.a. “Brother” and sister Emma. Ray attended St. Christopher’s Elementary School, walking distance from his house by the railroad tracks, and St. Peter’s Boys High School. In his teenage years, he was active in sports and had a newspaper route. He met the love of his life and beloved wife Elsie Robertson while roller skating as a teenager.
After high school, Ray enlisted in the Navy and was assigned to work as an air crewman in Norman, OK. He took courses at Wagner College under the G.I. Bill then launched into business working for American Handcrafts Company. Ray then worked for Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. where he was awarded the Liberty Leader Award for being the top salesman in the country. He went on to become a partner in the Wells-McCausland Insurance Company in NJ.
Ray and Elsie had three daughters, Lorraine, Joan, and Barbara. He was a devoted Catholic who was very active in the Church. Ray enjoyed many family vacations. He had a great love for boating, motorcycles, and was a golf enthusiast which he played well into his later years.
Ray was the life of the party and lit up a room with laughter. He loved his family dearly and would do anything for them. Ray is survived by his daughters, Joan and Barbara; granddaughters, Kara (and her husband Vincent) and Kimberly; great-grandchildren, Madison, Kenneth, and Jack; as well as nephews, nieces, sons-in-law, Garry and Gene, and countless friends whose lives he touched along the way.
Hours of public visitation for Raymond will be held on Wednesday, January 8, from 3 to 7 PM at Norman Dean Home for Services. A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, January 9, at 10 AM at St. Cecilia Church of Rockaway. Please join us in celebrating the life of this brave, kind, and caring soul, and use this page to share a memory, leave a condolence, or light a candle to continue to let Ray's light shine!
