Meredith Jane Rahmann Fratti, age 43, wife of Michael Fratti, passed away on Feb. 24 at Branford Hospice. She had a 12-year standoff with oligodendroglioma, astrocytoma, and leptomeningeal brain tumors. She won that battle, as she lived 12 years to raise her boys and savor the joys of life. She passed in the morning sunlight surrounded by the love of her family.
Meredith was born April 6, 1976, in New Haven. She was raised and attended school in Madison, graduated from Keene State College, and eventually moved to Florida where she met and married Michael. They raised their two boys there while Meredith pursued her career in event planning.
A light-hearted woman, Mer had a loving and gentle nature with a great sense of humor. When not with her boys, she loved being with her horses. She worked for a time at a horse rescue and eventually bought her own horse, Teddy. Once her health dictated that her love of riding must end, she turned to working on her butterfly garden and enjoyment of luring birds to her yard.
Her family was her rock, assisting her along her health journey while still providing fun and laughter. All of the children of the family inspired her to live life to the fullest and brought her great joy.
She became a member and a board member of the The Connecticut Brain Tumor Alliance. She found their support invaluable and made wonderful friends there, if only for a brief time.
Besides her husband Michael and their sons Jacob Stratton Rahmann Fratti and Ryan Montefusco Fratti, she leaves her parents, Theodore and Kathleen Rahmann of Madison; mother-in-law Helen Fratti of Florida; her sister Amanda Coppola and her husband Carlo, and their children Anna, Mario, Sofia, and Carlo; as well as her brother Theodore Rahmann, his wife Samara, and their children Cody and Colin.
She was also loved and will be missed by her aunt Jane and uncle Dave Pugliese of Old Saybrook; her aunt Lanie and Uncle Roy Handy of Guilford; and her cousins Mary Kate, John, Matt, Olivia, Cyndi, Wendy, Rob, and Steven, with whom she shared many special memories.
Meredith was predeceased by her grandparents Barbara and Robert Waitkus, Helena and Dietrich Rahmann, father-in-law David Fratti, her uncle Dick and aunt Nancy Rahmann, and cousins Lynn and Bill Handy.
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, March 8 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Madison Beach Hotel, located on 94 W. Wharf Rd., Madison, CT 06443. The service will be followed by a light lunch. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Ray of Light Farm, 232 Town St., East Haddam, CT 06423, or their web site.
