Esther Jane Rahe, 87, beloved wife and mother, passed away peacefully at her home in Newport Beach on Friday, May 13, 2011 following a brief illness.

She leaves her husband of 65 years, Norman Rahe; their five children, Terri Harrell, Mike Rahe, Robin Huston, Nancy Merkle and Nick Rahe; fourteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Born on January 3, 1924, she was the first daughter of Webster and Zoe Perley of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She attended Coe College and worked as a payroll accountant for a short period prior to flying to Fairbanks Alaska to marry her husband Norman in 1947. As an athlete, she was an incredible underhanded softball pitcher and swimmer, winning a first place trophy for the side stroke at 36 when she was already a mother of four. The family moved several times during her lifetime as her husband’s career advanced and she was always a trooper, setting up her household and managing her children’s schedules. She loved the sunshine and the children have many fond memories of summers in Iowa spent at Elmcrest Country Club and the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach. She was an avid reader and always ready to socialize and entertain. In her later years she was a volunteer for the local assistance league. The family has resided in Newport Beach for 48 years.

The things her family will miss most…her sideways smile & laugh when she thought you were pulling her leg and the way she and her husband would hold hands or look at one another with a youthful and everlasting love.

A Rosary is being held at O’Connor Mortuary, 25301 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Hills on Sunday, May 22 at 7PM. The funeral service is scheduled for 8:30 AM on Monday, May 23rd at Our Lady Queen of Angels Parish, 2046 Mar Vista Drive, Newport Beach with burial to follow at 12:00PM at Miramar National Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Drive, San Diego, California. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made on her behalf to your favorite charity.