Rafaela A. McQueen

Wellsville, NY - Rafaela A. McQueen, 87, of 2847 Prospect Drive passed away on Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at Highland Park Healthcare Center following a long illness. She was born on September 19, 1930 in Barranquitas, Puerto Rico, the daughter of Ramon and Mariana (Arroyo) Perez. On July 9, 1954 in the romantic city of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, she married Raymond M. McQueen, who she met while he was serving with the U.S. Coast Guard.

Rafaela was raised in Puerto Rico and moved to Wellsville with Ray in 1958. She was a stay at home mom while Cindy was young and was employed at the Brooklyn School Cafeteria for 27 years, where she was loved by the students, faculty and staff. She retired as the cafeteria manager in 1996. She was a former member of the Wellsville Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary. She was a devoted wife and mother and will remembered as “Nana” to her beloved grandchildren. After retirement, she and Ray spent the summers in Watkins Glen for 20 years. She loved Seneca Lake and her many friends in the Watkins Glen area. They celebrated their 25th anniversary in Hawaii, and enjoyed their many vacations in Puerto Rico.

She is survived by her husband Raymond, two daughters, Ana (Jorge) Ramos of Carolina, Puerto Rico, and Cindy (Rand) Rocchio of Wellsville, four grandsons, Georgie (Yadira) Ramos of Dover, DE, Joksan Ramos of Condado, Puerto Rico, Calvin Rocchio of Berkley, CA, and Mario Rocchio of Rochester, NY, two great granddaughters, Yadiana and Yanialis of Dover, DE, several half brothers and sisters residing in Puerto Rico, and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service is being planned for the summer and will announced at a later date.   

Please consider memorial donations to the Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief Fund, %The American Red Cross, 786 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14209. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.