Domenico ""Dominic"" Raia

Domenico "Dominic" Raia September 30, 1939 February 15, 2012 Portland - Domenico ""Dominic"" Raia, 72, of Portland, passed away peacefully on February 15, 2012 at Maine Medical Center. Dominic was born on September 30, 1939, to Sabato Raia and Giulia Maietta (Fasulo), in Cicciano, Italy, where he was raised and educated. At the age of 14, he worked for the Russo Pasta Factory before taking a position at the NATO Base in Naples, Italy as a civilian employee. In 1962 he married Maria Avallone. In 1991, he moved to the United States due to a medical illness and received a liver transplant at Deaconess Hospital in Boston. At the time, doctors expected him to live only six months. Instead, he flourished for 21 years. Dominic, or Mimi, as family and friends called him, loved God, family and great food. A true Neapolitan, he always had an opinion or joke to lighten someone's day. He definitely kept our hearts beating with excitement. Dominic's true love came to him on January 5, 1978, when his only child, Giuliana, was born. His biggest wish was to walk her down the aisle, which happened on September 18, 2010, when she married a wonderful man named Dustin. Dominic was very pleased knowing that his heart and joy was, and is, in good hands. He was on cloud nine (believe us, he would have said otherwise if he wasn't) Dominic was a communicant of St. Peter's Catholic Church in Portland, where he was an active member of the Parish and Holy Name Society. He was also active in the Columbia Social and Athletic Club and a volunteer at Seaside Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center. Sadly for us, Dominic left us, but he left peacefully, surrounded by family and friends, knowing that all is well. He was predeceased by his wife, Maria Avallone and his parents. He is survived by his daughter, Giuliana Raia-Chernesky and her husband Dustin, his brother Salvatore and his wife Pina, his sister Lucia Cassese and her husband Vincenzo, many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and his extended family who will forever love and miss him. The family wishes to thank the Lahey Clinic Transplant Team, especially Dr. Lewis, Dr. Jenkins and Dr. Pompocelli for their wonderful care over the last twenty years. The family also wishes to thank the physicians and nurses in SCU4 and R5 at Maine Medical Center for their excellent care of Dominic. Friends and family are invited to a period of visitation on Monday, February 20, 2012 from 5 to 7 pm at A.T. Hutchins , LLC - Independent Death Care of Maine, 660 Brighton Avenue, Portland . A mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, February 21, 21012 at 10am at St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, 72 Federal St., Portland. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, South Portland. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Dominic's memory to: The Lahey Clinic Liver Transplant Fund 41 Mall Rd. Burlington, MA, 01805. To offer condolences and share memories with the family please go to www.independentdeathcare.com.

Domenico ""Dominic"" Raia

September 30, 1939 - February 15, 2012

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