John Benjamin Raia

John Benjamin Raia, 81, peacefully entered into eternal life on the 24th of September 2010. He is preceded in death by his mother, Mary Spenella Raia, his parents, Ben and Jenny Raia, and sister-in-law, Saana Barzilla Raia. He is survived by his loving brothers and sisters-in-law, Joseph and Jacqueline Raia and Luke and Kathy Raia, nieces and nephews, Leon, Jennifer Raia Coe and Leon Joseph Coe, Angela Raia Buyajian and Craig Charles Buyajian, Jr. and Jake Joseph Buyajian. Mark, Glenda and Alexandria Kathryn Sharp and Ben Joseph and Marianna Raia and numerous cousins and family.

Graduate of San Jacinto High School and the University of Houston. He was a loyal Houston Cougar fan. He was a dedicated employee for the City of Houston Planning and Development Department for over 54 years. At his retirement, Johnny was honored with the naming of the Planning Department’s John B. Raia Conference Room.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from four o’clock in the afternoon until eight o’clock in the evening on Monday, the 27th of September, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. A recitation of the Holy Rosary is to commence at seven o’clock.

A Mass of Christian Burial is to be offered at half-past ten o’clock in the morning on Tuesday, the 28th of August, at St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church, 3131 El Dorado Boulevard in Houston, where the Rev. Vincent Vuong-Quoc Nguyen, Pastor, is to serve as celebrant.

The Rite of Committal will follow, via an escorted cortege, at St. Joseph Cemetery in Houston.

Pallbearers: Leon F. Coe, Joseph A. Ditta, Ben J. Raia, John A. Raia Jr., Johnny L. Raia II, Joseph F. Sciortino, Mark C. Sharp and Joseph N. Tamburello II.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in honor of John Benjamin Raia to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society www.lls.org or mail to: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, P. O. Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202 or the American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org or mail to: American Cancer Society P. O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718.