Raffaela A. "Rae" (Albano) Arena

Raffaela A. “Rae” Arena, age 93, of 6750 Elm Beach Road, passed away in Cicero on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.

The family will receive friends at Covert Funeral Home in Ovid from 1:00 to 5:00pm on Monday, October 7, 2024. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00am on Tuesday, at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Ovid. Prayers of committal will be at Holy Cross Cemetery.

Born in Astoria, Queens on August 21, 1931, a daughter of the late Raphael and Rose (nee Cilento) Albano. She was married to Joseph A. Arena in NYC on April 15, 1951. Rae led a full, vibrant and productive life. With her husband, Joe, they owned Arena’s Produce Market in Fulton for 11 years from 1952 to 1963. In 1969 they moved as a family to Wethersfield, CT for Joe’s promotion with Investment Diversified Services, and returned to their hometown of Fulton 4 years later, at which time they started Arena Development, building residential homes During all these endeavors, she focused on family life and business, and then they started River House Distributors in Fulton.  They moved to their home on Cayuga Lake in 1986, and enjoyed a brief retirement until 1998, when they established 89 Traders Village in Romulus. Rae and Joe traveled the globe extensively and memorable trips continued with her family even after his death in 2004.   Rae was a devout member of the Roman Catholic Church and ardent volunteer at the Ovid Food Pantry.

She is survived by her loving children; John of Greenwich, NY, Ralph (Elizabeth) of Martville, NY, Josephine Anne “Jo” (Dave) Eells, of Cicero, NY, Peter and Anthony (Mardy) of Albuquerque, NM, 14 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and all of their families. Rae was preceded in death by her beloved husband Joe in 2004 after 53 years of marriage, and by her son, Joseph Renato Arena in 2006.  In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to Mary Mother of Mercy Parish, PO Box 403, Interlaken, NY 14847.