Obituary of Elvas "Ellie" Raap

Elvas (Ellie) Olga (nee’ Cheslock) Raap, age 88, of Union, Kentucky, passed away peacefully on April 17, 2018.

Ellie was born to the late Isidore and Hattie (nee’ Dale) Cheslock on June 12, 1929 and grew up in Poltimore, Quebec, Canada. She was 18 when she met and fell in love with the new Vicar of their congregation.

Beloved wife of 69 years of Henry (Hank) Raap, loving mother of Betty Brower (Frank), Debbie Jaremba (Ed), Gary Raap, Bernie Raap (Beth), Marijo Raap, Leroy Raap (Lori), and Kevin Raap. Cherished Grandmother of 14 - Amy Yonkman (Chris), Michael Brower (Jen), Lori Bagwell (Jay), Cheryl Jaremba, Keith Raap (Jillian), Jesse Raap, Scott Raap, Mandy Hawver, Brad Hawver, Preston Hawver (Tammy), Travis Hawver, Jason Raap, Jackie Raap and Amber Raap. Dear Great-grandmother to Erin, Olivia, Audrey and Amelia Yonkman and Justin, Andrew, and Riley Brower. Ellie is also survived by brothers Harold Cheslock (Anne) and Stanley Cheslock (Susan) and numerous nieces and nephews in the States and Canada.

Various moves returned the family to Hank’s hometown of St. Paul, Minnesota, then to Downers Grove, Illinois, Jamestown, North Carolina, and 20 years ago they moved to Union, Kentucky. Ellie was raised on a farm and continued to garden throughout her life. She had many stitching and cooking/baking skills and passed them along to her daughters and sons. Ellie took her skills to her churches as she provided soups for the Wednesday night services, taught ladies of the Altar Guild to make Chrismons, and made herself quietly available everywhere with her talents.

In addition to her parents, Ellie was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Barbara, brothers Leonard Cheslock and Arnold Cheslock, Parents-in-law, Henry and Betty Raap, Brother-in-law and wife, Rev. George and Maxine Raap, and sister-in-law and husband Jeanette and Tom Hawley.

Ellie’s Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, April 28, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 9066 Gunpowder Road, Florence, Kentucky at 12:00 p.m., with a visitation beginning at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations in Ellie’s name may be made to at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 9066 Gunpowder Road, Florence, Kentucky 41042.