Bridget Raley

Bridget Lynn Raley passed away suddenly on May 30 th in the middle of her Saturday morning routine of putting a busy household in good order.

She was 55 years old.

Bridget was devoted to the people she loved. For 34 years, she gave her husband affection, loyalty, faithful advice, and much-needed laughter. She raised two sons to manhood—from skinned knees to life’s more grievous problems—with wisdom, humor, and some toughness. Bridget welcomed many more people into her life: the boys’ friends and girlfriends, her nephews, co-workers at Cayuga Medical Center, young people in need of counsel, fellow musicians, and many others.

All these she embraced by sharing her skills on the cello or cooking meals that were transcendental. Her pizza and chocolate chip cookies might have earned millions. She made off-color comments and told saucy stories that belied her status as a pastor’s wife and won her many friends. She was also given to unexpected recitations of Scripture and poetry from memory.

People returned her love as deeply as she gave it.

In spite of her gracious character, she had an aristocratic confidence that she would get her way. Anyone who mistook her smiles for weakness would pay dearly. She prevailed over a stroke, embolisms, and cancer with physical courage and wit. But she interrupted doctors and treated their directives as kindly suggestions that she would think about. Hospital nurses only contained her with effort. She viewed life’s limitations as targets for assault.

Bridget is survived by her parents, Tom and Donna Harris of Salem, OR; her husband Matt and sons, Dylan and Malcolm, of Ithaca, NY; and countless friends and loved ones across the United States. A memorial service will be held at Bethel Grove Bible Church in Ithaca, NY on June 20th at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in her memory to Bethel Grove Bible Church, 1763 Slaterville Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850.

Her family agrees that if the Lord had not taken her instantly, she would have mounted fierce resistance. May she rest in peace.