Shari Raffaeli

Shari Raffaeli, 71, of Grand Island passed away Wednesday, November 10, 2021, at her home. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, November 20, 2021, at the Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island.



Shari was born August 19, 1950, at Boston, MA to William and Carolyn (Cianchette) Monroe. She grew up moving frequently as William was an Air Force pilot and the family relocated every couple years. Along the way, she spent time growing up in Pierre, SD, Michigan and Okinawa, Japan. She graduated from high school in Imperial, NE in 1968.



Shari met Richard Raffaeli in Imperial, NE. The were married on February 6, 1971. Richard farmed and the couple moved to Sterling, CO in 1973 where they raised their family. They lived in Greely, CO prior to retiring in Grand Island, NE in 2015.

Shari was a devoted Jehovah’s Witness from her early youth until she passed. She openly shared her faith and Biblical based hope with anyone she could.



Shari’s passion for music was prevalent to any who knew and loved her. She loved to talk about her relationship to Vaughn Monroe, her uncle. Many simple things brought Shari joy. Her birds, her dogs, art, baking, puzzles and sewing were just few of the things she enjoyed.



Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Richard; her son, Frazer (Kiley) Raffaeli; three daughters, Carolyn (Matt) Raffaeli, Taryn DeVault and Jordyn (Caleb) Johnson; nine grandchildren, Tristen and Ethan Raffaeli, Maria (Keaton) Wyatt, Christian and Levi Johnson, Talia and Roman DeVault, and Milania and Cesare’ Demetrius.



She was preceded in death by her parents, her older brother, Joseph and younger sister, Suzan Monroe.