Florence Vitale Raubacher, age 95, of Dover, DE, died Friday January 8, 2015. Born in Belleville, NJ, she was the daughter of the late Gaetano and Lauretta Vitale. Soon after she was born, her family moved to Franklin Lakes, where she grew up and graduated from Ramsey High School in 1938. She graduated from Rider College in 1941 where she met her future husband Charles V. Raubacher. Florence started teaching at Dover High School as a business/secretarial science teacher in the fall of 1941 and continued until 1946 when she stayed home to raise a family.
Florence continued her teaching at Holy Cross High School in 1960 and moved to Dover High in 1966. After achieving her master’s degree in Education from the University of Delaware, she became an Associate Professor at Wesley College in 1969 where she created the Model Office, was Chairperson of the department and pursued her education for a doctorate. Florence also taught night school for continuing educational students. She dedicated her life to teaching and improving the lives of her students. In her quieter moments she cherished the time spent with her family. She will be greatly missed by those whose lives she touched.
Besides her parents, Florence is preceded in death by her husband, Charles V. Raubacher in 1975 and her son Charlie in 2013.
Florence leaves her loving children, Thomas J. his wife Kathleen; Christopher J., his wife Rebecca; and her daughter Margaret A. and her husband John Dunham; Elizabeth R. Raubacher, her daughter in law. Seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren, Matthew S. Raubacher and his wife Jennie; Charles T. Raubacher, his wife Sebila and their children Benjamin and Leyla Charlie; Brian H. Raubacher and his wife Sarah; Christopher N. Raubacher, his wife Laurie and their children, Riker, Terika and Dax. J. Ryan Dunham and Rachael A. McClain, her husband Tony and their daughter Audrey. She also leaves one sister, Alexandra Spizziri and her husband John, of Montana.
A Visitation will be held on Friday, Jan. 15, 2016 at 10 a.m. at Holy Cross Church, 631 S. State St., Dover. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Interment will take place in Holy Cross Cemetery in Dover. In lieu of flowers, donations in Florence’s memory may be given to Holy Cross Church, 631 S. State St., Dover, DE 19901. Life’s End Services are by Michael J. Ambruso Funeral Director, Inc. Condolences may be forwarded via www.ambruso.com