Anna Mae Raver, age 86 of Oldenburg, Indiana, passed away Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at St. Andrews Health Campus in Batesville, Indiana. Born October 9, 1938, in Jennings County Indiana, she is the daughter of Sylvester and Irene (Nee: Elsner) Vogel. She married Elmer F. Raver on April 15, 1967, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in North Vernon, Indiana, and he preceded her in death on April 11, 2016. Anna Mae was a homemaker and worked in housekeeping at the Sisters of St. Francis Convent in Oldenburg before retiring and was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church.
Anna Mae was a caregiver throughout her life. She raised her seven children and enjoyed watching her grandchildren. She also took care of her husband. When Elmer needed extra care due to health problems toward the end of his life, she was always there to help him. When he was unable to walk, she moved him around in a wheelchair and drove him places. She even slept on the living room couch for months so she could be near him when he was confined to a hospital bed in that room.
Anna Mae was never one to sit still for very long. She always kept busy doing something. She was a talented seamstress, and made dresses for the girls, shirts for the boys, and clothes for Barbie dolls. Once, she even made a Cabbage Patch doll when those were popular.
She was a wonderful cook and baker and made sure her family was well fed. When the kids were young, she had a huge garden and canned a lot of produce. There was always plenty of food to eat throughout the year.
Anna Mae was very devoted to her faith, prayed the rosary daily, and loved attending Mass. She volunteered in various ways at Holy Family Church, including washing the Mass linens, working at the church festival, and singing in the choir.
The kids remember that Mom did not like woolly worms. If she saw one crawling around outside, she would get the broom out and get rid of it. She was never very fond of the cats on the farm but always made sure they were fed daily.
Over the past few years, she developed quite a sweet tooth and never refused candy, ice cream or other treats. Her favorite candy was Sour Patch Kids.
She is survived by her daughters Diane Raver of Batesville, Elaine Raver of Oldenburg, Theresa (Andy) Williams of Greensburg, Indiana, Monica (John) Livers of Oldenburg, Indiana, Mary (Steve) Mulcahy of Newburgh, Indiana; sons Carl Raver and Joe (Julie) Raver, all of Oldenburg; sisters Kathlene Baurley of North Vernon, Indiana, Jeanette (Dick) Heckman of Plainfield, Indiana, and Marie (Don) Laymon of Lexington, Indiana; brothers Tom (Louise) Vogel, Paul (Pam) Vogel, all of North Vernon, and Leonard (Carol) Vogel of New Albany, Indiana; sister-in-law Pauline Vogel of Commiskey, Indiana; step-sisters Coleen Gerth of Seymour, Indiana, Maria Tempest of Scottsburg, Indiana, and Joyce (Gilbert) Vogel of North Vernon; step-brother Henry (Patty) Carr of North Vernon; 23 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her step-mother Edith Carr Vogel, sister Elizabeth (Jerry) Bridges; brothers Charles (Beverly) Vogel and Bob Vogel; brother-in-law William Baurley; step-brother David Carr; and step brothers-in-law Dale Gerth and Mark Tempest.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, January 22, from 9 a.m. – 12:40 p.m., at Weigel Funeral Home in Batesville. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 1 p.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church in Oldenburg, with Fr. John Barker OFM officiating. The burial will be at Holy Family Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Oldenburg Academy. For online condolences go to www.weigelfh.com.