Obituary of Dorothy T. Rau

WESTFIELD - Dorothy T. (Taylor) Rau, age 90, of Omaha, Nebraska, formerly of Springwood Apts., Westfield, died Thursday, December 24, 2009 at the Hospice House of Omaha following a courageous battle with cancer, . Dorothy was born on June 23, 1919 in Westfield, NY, the daughter of the late Bert and Emma (Frehse) Taylor. A Westfield resident most all her life, she was a 1937 graduate of Westfield Academy. Dorothy assisted her late husband, Neland Rau in the operation of the family's business, Rau's Red & White Market on Main St. in Westfield for many years, where they retired from in 1969. She also helped her husband operate the family grape farm for several years at their residence on North Gale St. Dorothy enjoyed her plants and playing cards as well as reading. Mrs. Rau was a member of First Presbyterian Church and Society of Westfield. Survivors include her son: Robert P. Rau of Omaha, NE, her two grandchildren, Sarah Bateman and James Bateman and her son in law, J. Michael Bateman all of Tallahassee, FL. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Neland Rau, whom she married on September 13, 1947 and who died in 1979, her daughter, Sandra Bateman, who died in 2008 and by her brother, James Taylor who died in 1978. Funeral services will be private with burial in Westfield Cemetery with the Rev. Stephen Morse officiating. Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church and Society of Westfield, 49 So. Portage St., Westfield, NY 14787 or to the Hospice House of Omaha, 7415 Cedar St., Omaha, NE 68124-2367 (online at gary@hospicehouseomaha.org). Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the MASON Funeral Home, 37 Clinton St., Westfield, NY. Log on to www.masonfuneral.com to send Dorothy's family a message of sympathy or to share a thought.