Dolores Dee (Deputy) Rafferty

Dolores “Dee” Ellen (Deputy) Rafferty, 85, of Mount Carmel, Illinois, passed away Thursday, November 24, 2016, surrounded by her family.  

    She was born on July 5, 1931 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the daughter of James Sherman and Pauline (Ankenbrand) Deputy.  She married John R. Rafferty on August 11, 1953 at Saint Mary’s Church.  They enjoyed 35 years of marriage before his passing in May 1988.

    Dee was a devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother.  She was giving and kind-hearted and dedicated her life to her family.  She loved baking cookies for her children and grandchildren.  She and John raised their family in a very special neighborhood of friends.  She looked forward to Friday night card games with her neighbors.  She enjoyed taking early morning walks and was passionate about keeping the community clean and beautiful.  Some of her hobbies were coin and stamp collecting and clipping newspaper articles out of the Daily Republican Register.  She truly was a servant of God.  

Dee was a member of Saint Mary’s Church, Daughters of

Isabella and the Cancer Society.  She worked at Columbian Federal Savings and Loan, Skiles Oil Corporation, Catholic Social Service, Evangelical United Methodist Church, and Short Funeral Home.

    Survivors include her six children, daughter Lynn Holcomb and husband John, of Mount Carmel, son Doug Rafferty, of Mount Carmel, son David Rafferty and wife Sherry, of Mount Carmel, son John Rafferty and wife Pam, of Western Springs, Illinois, daughter Cindy Baumgart and husband Chris, of Mount Carmel, and daughter Ellen Fuller and husband Mike, of Mount Carmel; 17 grandchildren Kate Holcomb, Erin Stinson and husband Michael, Jake Holcomb, Chris Rafferty and wife Marla, Ross Rafferty, Molly Rafferty, Lindy Rafferty, Grace Rafferty, Jack Rafferty, Patrick Rafferty, Joseph Rafferty, Luke Baumgart and wife Jordan, Ashley Baumgart, Tricia Baumgart, John Fuller, Hunter Fuller, and Faith Fuller; 7 great-grandchildren Hallie, Hadlie, and Hudson Scott, Elliot Stinson, Clare, Grant, and Maeve Rafferty; a brother, James Deputy and wife Diane of Brandon, Florida; a sister, Dorothy Wahler, of Indiana, Pennsylvania; a brother-in-law Robert D. Cunningham; a sister-in-law Joanne Deputy; and many nieces and nephews.

    Preceding her in death were her husband John, her parents, infant son John Robert, infant grandson Hayden Lloyd Scott, sisters Mary V. Cunningham and Belle Beuligmann, and brother Nile Deputy.

    Visitation will be from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at Cunningham Funeral Home, 403 North Cherry Street Mt. Carmel, IL.

    Funeral service will be Monday at 10:00 am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church; burial will follow at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.

    Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to American Cancer Society or St. Mary’s Catholic School, General Fund.

            Condolences may be made online at www.short-cunninghamfh.com

            Short-Cunningham Funeral Home is honored to serve Dee’s family.

 Service Information