Raymond J. Chatterton

After an admirable fight with pancreatic cancer, Raymond Chatterton, our loving husband, father, Grandfather, brother, uncle and friend is at peace. What is Ray’s ‘peace’ you ask? Well, his peace is playing golf on a perfectly groomed course with his brother Richie (predeceased) watched by their parents Ray Sr. and Bunny (predeceased).

We know that he is eating an endless supply of Big Macs accompanied with a giant Diet Coke - no lemon and lots of ice. This ‘peace’ also exists as he watches his family and friends from heaven.

We believe his peace comes in knowing he created a family that will always lift and support one another. Diane, his wife of 43 years, and Ray built their life together. From Astoria, Queens at sixteen to their West Babylon home they have worked together to create a space where their daughters, Megan and Jamie, along with their husbands Kevin and Tom can share laughs, stories and love. This family bond extends to his grandchildren Lauren, Emerson, and Kevin Jr., who will surely miss his 7-11 runs, softball advice, and swimming lessons.

We believe he is also at ‘peace’ knowing that his siblings Cookie (Jim), Karen (Kevin), Patrick and Tara (Ralph), have a unique bond that will not be broken in his passing. Ray’s in-laws, Peggy and Jim Sheehan, Debbie (Bob-predeceased), and Jimmy (predeceased), have been part of his family since his early teens. The stories, his indescribable laugh, and his dance moves will live on in all of our memories. He is at ‘peace’ knowing that his nieces and nephews; Keli-Anne (Dan & Madison), Ashley (Robert, Sampson, Mackenzie & McKinley), Tyler (Vanessa), Valerie, Logan, Kerry, Kayla, Nicholas, Shannon (Patrick, Finn & Keir), Finn, Jack, and Georgia are wonderful people who will continue to lift and support each other through the hard times and the good times. When the song “We Are Family” is played, we all know how peaceful it will be for him to watch us all dance and celebrate life with each other.

He will find peace in knowing his postal friends will remember his perseverance, dedication, and tenacity. He will find peace in knowing that his golf buds might think twice when lining up their next swing after playing back the advice he gave in their minds. He will find peace in knowing his friends and neighbors are sharing stories of all the wonderful memories they have with him. He is also found in knowing his NYU Langone nurses, doctors, and staff are courageously fighting the battle against cancer every single day. He is proof that you (WE) all make a difference in the lives of people we meet.

Now, how do YOU find your peace during this time? Ray, would want you to find your peace in hope. Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. It guided Ray and his family and friends through the last few years of his life. He would want us all to know that with the tiniest amount of hope, a glass of Diet Coke and the “right tool for the job” anything is possible.

In lieu of flowers, his family asks that donations be made in his honor to the Perlmutter Cancer Center (Huntington) information is listed below.

A visitation will be held for Raymond on Thursday, September 1, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. A funeral mass will be held Friday, September 2, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Our Lady of Grace RC Church, 666 Albin Ave, West Babylon, NY 11704. Cremation is private.