Patricia Ann (Grabowski) Rayman

Patricia Ann (Grabowski) Rayman, 79, of Van Wert County, passed away peacefully at Mercy Health – St. Rita’s Hospital, Lima Inpatient Hospice at 5:13 a.m. Tuesday, August 11, after a courageous battle with Myasthenia Gravis at Mercy Health. Blessed with a rare and gentle humility, her life was a beautiful tapestry of kindness, selfless giving, and sacred devotion. She poured her heart into her family, her friends, and her art, forever shaping the young lives she so lovingly taught.

She was born September 2, 1946, in the General Hospital in Passaic, New Jersey. It has been said her mother went into labor while taking in a show at Radio Music Hall, to Adolph ‘Al’ Stanley Grabowski and Pauline Damchak-Grabowski, who both preceded her in death. On May 23, 1975, Pat married Bernard ‘Ben’ Rayman at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, Delphos, officiated by Rev. Albert Ottenweller.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by sisters, Barbara Rood of West Milford, New York, and Janet Ravas and brother-in-law, Robert Ravas of Scotia, New York; nephew, Steven Anderson of Forked River, New Jersey; father and mother-in-law, Edward L. and Hazel (Fogt) Rayman of Ottoville; in-laws, Thomas and Sara Rayman, and Roger Ulm Sr., Delphos.

Pat is survived by her husband, Ben; sister-in-law, Charlotte Rayman-Ulm of Delphos; brother-in-law, Walter J. Rood of Toms River, New Jersey; nieces and nephews, Jennifer (Randy) Ulm-Teman and Ashley (Justis) Teman-Dowdy of Van Wert; Andrew (Brooke) Teman of Delphos; Brooke Teman of Detroit; Amy (Kevin Brinkman) Rayman-Mercer of Fort Jennings; Avery and Gage Mercer of Delphos; Roger (Mandy) Ulm Jr., Drew Ulm and Logan Ulm of Venedocia; April F. Rayman, Nate and Alex Rayman of Van Wert; Robert (Debra) Ravas of Wappinger Falls, New York and Parish, Florida; Debra Rood-Anderson, Lisa Anderson-Potter and Eric Anderson of Toms River, New Jersey; Richard and Karen Rood, and Brittney Rood of Wayne, New Jersey and many more extended Grabowski and Rayman family members throughout the U.S., including Pat’s very close friends, who she embraced as treasured sisters and brothers.

Patricia Rayman was a practicing teacher of the arts for all ages. Born and educated on the east coast, she was initially taught by working professionals from New York City. She was a graduate of the New Jersey School of Fine and Industrial Arts, New York Institute of Photography, and the Maryland Institute College of Art. Also, she successfully completed countless continued education courses and programs in art academics and a host of art applications as well as writing and children’s literature.

After a summer teaching post ended where she worked with special children, Pat declined career opportunities to apply her creative skill as an illustrator for an eminent greeting card company on New York’s Madison Avenue as well as to remain and teach art education within her east coast roots. Through college friend, Margaret Harter, she learned of art teacher opening. She ventured to Delphos, a rural agricultural city located in the northwest central corridor of Ohio, and taught at Franklin Elementary, Jefferson Middle and Landeck schools for over 32 years. However, her teaching was not limited to children, but all ages at various art organizations, including university art academics.

Patricia Rayman not only practiced what she taught, but realized years later her first two years in art school – and being taught by professionals – made the transition to education a success for her and for the children. Additionally, she was showered with hundreds of awards for her own art and photography, including having her artworks published in several books.

Concurrently over the years she was selected as Big Sister of the Year for her involvement in a young girl’s life which allowed this child to bud from a thorny environment and blossom forward with noted local and national achievements. She was also selected Tri-County Woman-of-the-Year for her volunteerism and an undaunted willingness of providing encouragement; Art is ageless, not only to the young, but even amongst nursing home seniors.

Pat has been recognized by the Ohio Senate for her humanitarian contributions which goes back to her younger years working wit emotionally and physically handicapped children. In addition, she also received an Outstanding Achievement in Education award as the founder of Art-to-Art: Building Friendships Through Art, (1986-2006) a national art-based education program which bridged the gap with the subjects of Geography, History, Reading, Writing, and Communications through Human Relations. The program peaked to over 400 schools in 42 states, having a potential awareness via print media exposed of 50 million. Her so-far life’s travels read like a Who’s Who list; in fact, she was included in Who’s Who In America n the past.

A Funeral Mass will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, August 14, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Delphos. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Ottoville. Visitation will be from 3-7 p.m. Thursday, August 13, at Weber Funeral Home, Delphos, where a Parish Wake Service will be held at 7 p.m.

Preferred memorials: Ohio City Fire Department/EMS, Wassenberg Art Center, St. Rita’s – Mercy Health Spiritual Department, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Special heartfelt gratitude for all their prayers to Father Joseph Varghese, St. Michael’s Catholic Church; Father Kent Kaufman, St. Charles Catholic Church, Lima; Chaplin Scott Long, Independent Bible Church; Chaplin John Sclier, Chaplain Ben Neff, Churches of God, General Conference Rev. Chaska Yoder and Darrin Belousek, Mennonite; Elder Allen Juan and Sister Anna Myers, Kingdom Hall, and Chaplain Herb Wilker for their spiritual blessings, including special friends and family that visited Pat while awaiting.