NADINE RABER
Posted: April 27th, 2022
July 3, 1956 – April 13, 2022
It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Nadine Raber at the age of 65. She is survived by her children Richelle Oerlemans-Pierce (Janice), Mackenzie Oerlemans, and Mitchell Oerlemans, siblings Surra Vardi and Brian Raber, and partner James (Jim) Maynard. She was predeceased by her parents Ressa Raber and Manuel Raber (Muriel), sister Maxine Raber and brother Avy Raber.
As the 3rd generation of a family business, Nadine joined her father, Manny, at Raber’s Departmental Store (later known as Raber’s Fabulous Fashions). She leaves to cherish hundreds of women wearing fabulous fashions and a number of friendships that were developed with staff, customers, and other downtown business owners that continued beyond the store’s closure in 2009.
Always the life of the party, Nadine loved to host and organize events. Even in retirement she continued to plan fashion shows and clothing swaps with friends and enjoyed hosting parties that would bring people together. She built many life-long friendships and cherished her time spent with the “Us Girls” and “Sisters of the Castor Bean” groups.
Nadine’s love for travel began when she backpacked across Europe after graduating high school, and she lived out her “world traveler” dreams right up until her passing in Mazatlan, Mexico where she had developed many friendships. Nadine enjoyed retirement life in Mazatlan playing bridge, volunteering, walking beaches, shopping, and acting as a tour guide when friends came to visit her in the beautiful city. Although Mazatlan was her “second home”, she continued to travel and explore the world at every opportunity. She was a colorful addition to the lives of all who knew and loved her and will be greatly missed.
A Celebration of Life will take place at 2:00pm on Sunday, May 29 in the Studio Theatre at the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre – 401 1st Street SE, in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Please wear something colorful.
I met Nadine in Banff with her girls Lee S and Sherry/Lois A. when we were 16. She is a lovely person and know how much she was appreciated and loved. Paradise is now even a better place
I knew Nadine through her wonderful clothing store. She was a vibrant and fun lady who made shopping there an event that made my day. So sorry to hear of her passing. My thoughts are with her family. 💔
I met Nadine when we were living in Fox Creek. I enjoyed her friendship. I am shocked. My condolences.
I have so many wonderful memories of you. As a baby you were the cutest and most active out of the 3 smallest siblings and till the end it stayed like that. I remember the day you fell off Dad’s boat trailer in Elkwater and had to be rushed back to Medicine Hat. Your worst accident was when you run through our front glass door without opening it. You always had a lot of friends and stray dogs. Thank goodness I have memories. I miss your calls and your joyest laugh. Think of you daily, miss you, love you and hope you are in a good place. You should start a bridge club up there or a fashion show. Whatever you do will be great.
Such a loss for so many of us. Nadine was a wonder friend and travel companion. She will be terribly missed and continue to travel with us in spirit! Love and miss you Nadine. Fly High!
Nadine was a super special friend for many years during my winters in mazatlan. She called me her Fairy Godmother for my sewing abilities. I had great joy in renewing dresses she bought at the Flea market. I sure will miss her…always gadding around being the meet and greet person to one and all.
I Meet Nadine in Mazatlan, what a wonderful soul. RIP
Nadine has been a very big part of my life these last twenty years. Mazatlan and Nadine are almost synonymous for me. I am so grateful and a better person for having known her. Her almost daily visit, daily phone calls, times at my home in Ottawa and cottage in Quebec, visits to our family ranch in Saskatchewan, cruises and so many other memories and experiences wove a life of many colours that will forever be in my heart. Family, your mother, your sister, our friend was loved
I am a member of The Sisters of the Castor Bean in Mazatlán, Mexico. Nadine was loved by all of us and I will miss her so very much. She was a mainstay of our traveling group. Always with a smile and a good up word for us all. She was so bright and I am so glad I knew her and traveled with her through the years.
I knew Nadine from Mazatlan. I was grateful for her assistance in helping me organize six fashion shows to raise money for a young girl who lived in the Salvation Army Children’s Home; the funds raised were needed for this little girl’s Hormone Replacement .
Nadine was the ‘expert of fashion shows’! I was grateful for her help, enthusiasm and ‘love in giving to others.’ A remarkable woman, truly to be missed in Maz circle of Friends.
I met Nadine in Mazatlan. I am ever so grateful for her assistance in helping me put on Fashion Shows to raise funds for a young girl who lived in the Salvation Army Home who needed funds for medicine. Nadine guided me through six years of Fashion Shows at Angelina’s Restaurant. An amazing talented loving woman. Nadine will be so missed in her Circle of Friends and her giving ways in Mazatlan.
She was known around Lake Chapala, Mazatlan and by so many of her friends as the Queen of Bling and we always looked forward to seeing her sense of fashion. She is terribly missed by so many of us, beyond words but my life is richer for having known her.
I never got enough of Nadine (except when she was scolding me!) She was an event. My goal was to make her laugh, and her face would light up! I am a Sister of the Castor Bean and our trips won’t be as fun without her. The top tourist attractions for her were the flea markets. A remarkable woman.
I so miss you ! I was under the weather in Mazatlan the week before she died. She dropped by with one of those large cinnamon buns ! So delicious ! What a wonderful thing to do and it was really appreciated…..God took a beautiful angel home where she is keeping tabs on all of us. May God Bless all her family and friends. Hope to attend on May 29 th……..Joanne and George
So sorry to hear that you have gone.
Nadine had so many good qualities and would help anyone. She was told not to have kids because of her extremely high sugar level but a mother’s love took over. Richelle was born first but due to her sugar was unresponsive after giving birth. I wheeled Richelle to Nadine for her to see her before Richelle was flown to Edmonton for an operation. How touching this was. Nadine and I flew to Edmonton a few days later and the hospital put us up during the operation. We had a special bond during these hard times. But still she did it again and had her twin boys..Mac and Mitch.
She needed a great babysitter so Heather joined the family. Nadine arranged for her to have driving lessons and after the kids grew up to study what ever she wanted. They were friends forever.
She had an exceptionally good heart and loved to help. I will always cherish her memories, miss her, think of her, and love her. You and I had a special relationship which I will always cherish.
Always a smile & cheery word from this fashion diva, Nadine was a happy and capable woman. I’ll miss seeing her around Playa Sur and the Juarez Flea market where she was a regular. Rest well Nadine 🥰.
I met Nadine in Mazatlan and got to know her best when we became roommates in the Sisters of the Castorbean travel group. She was the best friend, roomie and the best ‘fashion consultant’ a girl could have. RIP, Nadine ❤️
On behalf of Lois Aarhus and her children, sincerest condolences to you and yours. Mom spoke fondly of Nadine and shared many great memories in the Hat and Banff.