OXFORD – Verna Raphael (Verna W. Weidman Raphael) born Feb. 22, 1910, died peacefully on Jan. 25, 2010 at the NYS Veterans Home in Oxford, where she had been a resident for several years.
Verna was born in Franklin to the late Mae (Fagan) and Chester Weidman. She attended Guilford Country Schools and graduated from High School in 1928. She often reminded her family and friends that she attended her school’s basketball games all wrapped up in blankets in a horse-drawn sleigh.
In 1930, Verna graduated from Delhi Agricultural School with a two-year degree in Food Service and Dairy. After college Verna worked in both of these fields in Pennsylvania and Long Island.
She met Robert Charles Raphael, Sr. in LI and they were married June 25, 1933 in the Christ Episcopal Church in Lynbrook, Nassau County.  In 1941, the family purchased a small farm in Mt. Upton. Verna went to work at the Bendix Corporation in Sidney, and a few years afterwards the family moved to a farm in Guilford. After retiring from Bendix, Verna became extremely busy teaching ceramics to many area children and adults. She was an active member of many groups: The IBEW 1529, Rebecka Lodge serving as Noble Grand, 60+ Senior Citizens Groups of Norwich and Guilford serving as President of the Guilford Group, and Daughters’ of Union Veterans, Tent 71 in Sidney serving many years as President.  She also was a member of the Broad Street United Methodist Church in Norwich and the Presbyterian Church in Guilford Center. 
Not only did Verna enjoy ceramics, she actively involved herself in Bingo and jigsaw puzzles.  She loved making elaborate paintings and jewelry, which she gave as gifts to her family and friends. She had an amazing memory and loved to tell her family and friends stories about different times in her life.
Verna’s husband Robert died in 1978 and her son Robert, Jr. died in 2006. Two grandchildren also predeceased her: Sarah and Chandler Raphael. Verna was also predeceased by all her siblings and their spouses:  Howard (Dorothy), Vincent (Jessie), Ernest/Pete (Eleanor), Doris (George) Smith, Amy (Clayton) Baker, Grace (Ronald) Roach, and Mildred Weidman. 
Verna is survived by one son and two daughter-in-laws: Morris and Dianne (Golubinski) Raphael and Vicki (Carpenter) Raphael of Norwich. Seven grandchildren and their spouses survive:  Tracy Webb of Albany; Chad (Melissa Jarvis) Raphael of Norwich; Adam Raphael of Norwich; Marc (Rachel) Raphael of Virginia; Matthew (Kathryn) Raphael of Utah; Rebecca Raphael of Utah; and Michael Raphael of Norwich.  Ten Great-Grandchildren survive:  Morgyn and Lauryn Raphael, and Kathryn Schultz of Norwich; Ethan, Jessie, Sophia, Sarah and Gabriel Raphael of Virginia, and Amelia and Ellie Raphael of Utah.  Many nieces and nephews also survive. 
Verna enjoyed a long and prosperous life and kept her zest for life until passing into Her Loving Father’s Arms. She enjoyed being a part of the lives of many people and will be missed. 
Friends are invited to calling hours at the Behe Funeral Home, 21 Main Street, Oxford on Friday, March 12 from 6-8 p.m. and on Saturday, March 13 from 10-11 a.m. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 13 at 11 a.m., with Pastor Steve Reese of the Columbus Community Church officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery. All family and friends are invited to have lunch at the American Legion on S. Washington Ave. in Oxford following the burial.
Expressions of sympathy may be made in Verna’s memory to: Columbus Community Church, 4311 Highway 80, New Berlin, NY 13411 or Life Alerts Life Line Program, Chenango County Area Agency on Aging, 5 Court St., Norwich, NY 13815.