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In Memory
of Sebastiana "Bess"
Ratcliff
July 2, 1932 ~ August 29, 2021 (age 89) Sebastiana "Bess" Ratcliff (Musarra), 89, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, August 29, 2021 at Akron City Hospital. The
family will receive friends Friday, Septemnber 3, 2021 from 4 to 8 pm at the Anthony Funeral Home of Green, 4178 Massillon
Rd. (corner of Massillon and Steese Roads in Green, entrance off Steese) where a Sons of Italy service will be held at 7:45pm.
A funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, September 4, 2021 at 11:00am at Queen of Heaven Catholic Church
, 1800 Steese Rd., Uniontown OH 44685. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery. Donations may be made to Queen of Heaven Catholic Church.
Bess was a member of the Akron Post-Polio Support
Group. Her husband (also in the Memorial List) passed away earlier this year. Please keep them both and their family in your
prayers.
From the Akron
Post-Polio Support Group IN LOVING MEMORY OF BESS RATCLIFF (MUSARRA)
It is with the greatest sadness that our dearest friend and member of our Akron Post-Polio Support Group passed away peacefully
on August 29, 2021 while surrounded by her loving family. It was most unexpected and very sad that she had just lost her
dear husband Phil about five months ago. Bess was born in Akron, OH and was the youngest of three children. Her brothers
were Russ and Louie Musarra. Bess was a devoted wife of 69 years to Phil and was a loving, caring mother to Phyllis and Terry.
She has two grandchildren whom she loved dearly, as well as six great-grandchildren who were the center of her heart. Bess
and Phil would have been married for 70 years this month. As a couple, they loved to dance and in their younger days they
loved to jitterbug. She loved to visit the casino with daughter Phyllis and her son-in-law Neil. She was a devoted church
goer with her daughter Terry which was followed by going out to eat. In her earlier days, Bess was very proud of the beauty
shop that she owned in downtown Akron called Lowe’s Beauty Shop. After working in the beauty shop, she spent many years
taking care of children that she would claim to this day as being one of her own. She spent countless hours with her friends
at the Son’s of Italy where she attended many Christmas parties, worked several festivals, and volunteered any time
she was needed. She made friends through the Sons of Italy who became like family to her. Bess was also devoted to other
organizations such as Young at Heart and Ladies Guild of Queen of Heaven where she was part of the Friday fish fry, as well
as the Tallmadge Prime Timers. She also loved to play cards and bingo with Phil and friends. She will forever be remembered
by many things, but mostly for the way she loved her family. She never missed an opportunity to show her love for them. One
specific thing that Bess was known for was her delicious Sicilian cooking. She made the best meals for family and friends
and if you went hungry, it was no fault but your own. Bess had the opportunity to spend several vacations with her family
and looked forward to them every year. She loved Houghton Lake the best because she could enjoy the peacefulness of the lake
and the quiet nights. On the vacations there, it was always a necessity to jump in the van and open the doors and look at
all the deer. Of all the animals she loved, deer were her most favorite. A running joke that her family had with her was
that she was nicknamed “Mrs. Doolittle” because of her love for animals. She made the squirrels peanut butter
toast, fed the birds daily, and left out snacks for other critters. The service for her was held on September 4, 2021. Donations
were earmarked for her church – Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, 1800 Steese Rd., Uniontown, OH 44685. Lastly, Bess
not being with us as a member of our support group leaves a tremendous void. She always helped in countless ways, our annual
picnic and Christmas party. She loved to “give” and “help” all the time and was so creative in all
she did. What a generous heart she had – we will truly miss her smile, energy, and being a “part” of us
for so many years. Now she rests in peace with her Phil. She will remain in our hearts forever.
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