RAE ANN CURRIE (NICOLA) found peace after a twelve year battle with cancer early Wednesday morning on January 19th, 2022. A wonderfully kind and joyful woman, Rae was a genuine and warm presence at the VFW Post 208, and family gatherings alongside Alvin, her husband of forty-nine years.

Born to Iva (Scott) and Gerritt Nicola in Traverse City, MI on September 10, 1950, Rae was a bit of a trailblazer in pushing against expectations, first as a then-called "tomboy" and later, as a young woman, upon graduating high school by moving to the big city of Chicago in Fashion Design school. She carried her passion for art later into life, but switched gears and moved to Grand Rapids, MI.

Once again, pushing against the norms of the time, while working at MichCon (now DTE Energy), Rae was paired up with a stranger bowler in a bowling league at the former Chase Bowling Lanes. They fell in love and she later married Alvin, though it wasn't a popular decision at the time. While the choice created a strain in her family initially, once Rae's parents could get to know the common ground they had with Alvin, a life-long friendship began, just as they were beginning their family. Rae enjoyed traveling with her husband and social time, (with her listening & Alvin storytelling) with their many friends and family, and was fully welcomed immediately into the Currie family as daughter-in-law to Lydia - who later lived with the family - and Alvin's siblings and their children.

The couple experienced a devastating tragedy when Rae gave birth to the couple's first child, a son Timothy, who only survived for a day and a half after his birth before passing from complications. The couple would go on to have three daughters after Timothy: Angela, Courtney and Beverly. Life's struggles found the family again, when their young daughter Angela contracted a traumatic illness, leading to profound hearing loss and a miraculous recovery, she truly was - as Courtney often says their Angel of Joy. Despite these challenges with their young family, Alvin and Rae managed to build a beautiful life with many adventures often enjoyed with their 3 daughters in tow. Rae and Alvin's adventures throughout the years included frequent trips to her hometown of Central Lake for boating and fishing, road trips to see dear framily in Wisconsin, fishing trips with their young family and Rae's mother to Canada, and many other places around the nation.

Rae's quiet strength anchored the Currie family at home. Dedicating her focus to her faith and her family, Rae raised her children in Grand Rapids while Alvin served as a firefighter. All three of their daughters would earn diplomas at the prestigious City High School, and then developed their own successful careers. Outside her home life, Rae worked first as a parapro at City while the girls were in school and later at Mel Trotter Ministries, working overnight to welcome women who came in for support. She often volunteered in the communities she joined, including serving in the office at Burton Baptist Church, where she enjoyed services alongside her mother, Iva, and her brother, Barry. She helped again at the DW Cassard VFW Post 208 where her infectious smiles and laughter could be heard between rounds of shuffleboard and committee meetings.

During the quiet moments of her life, Rae read voraciously. She was a fan of religious fiction, mysteries, romance and especially the work of Stephen King. She was a talented seamstress and created and modified many fantastic quilts and clothing items throughout her life. As her daughters became adults, she became a loyal friend to the three girls, and they enjoyed numerous events around the Grand Rapids area, as well as their family cottage in Central Lake and beyond.

Her family expanded with the addition of her three beloved grandchildren, Courtney's daughters, who she loved deeply starting with her "bonus" granddaughter Harper Jane who Rae loved as her own immediately upon meeting her at the age of 3. For all the girls, Harper, Clarke and Tatum, she took an active part in their upbringing providing care and wisdom for them and Courtney. Acting as care provider full time during the first year of Clarke's life and later as needed - with frequency - as she crafted with, drew pictures for and entertained book and life conversations with them as they got older.

Rae was kept youthful by her youngest daughter Beverly who brought her along for food adventures, encouraged her to jump out of planes, and shared her daily tales of life lived well. Angela, with her quiet strength, like Rae's, was a steadfast and constant friend to Rae, showing up when needed, reaching out with genuine care and concern and upending her life to move home and to help provide near-constant care to the end of her life well into the evening as Rae was a bit of a night owl.

Rae is lovingly survived by her husband, Alvin Eugene, and her daughters Angela (Matthew) Currie-Schwartzwalder, Courtney (Louis) Simmons, and Beverly Currie; three granddaughters: Harper, Clarke and Tatum; her brother, Barry Nicola; her sister-in-law, Zelma (Currie) Holmes. Rae is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and a wide collection of close friends. Rae joins heaven with her parents, Gerritt and Iva Nicola, her in-laws Lydia Boddy and George T. Currie (whom she never had an opportunity to meet) and her son Timothy Eugene Currie, as well as a host of beloved sister and brothers-in- law.

Our family wishes to thank all who have reached out with expressions of love and consolation. We are grateful to Faith Hospice and our care partners there for their support these final months. Service Details. Visitation
When: Saturday, January 29th, 2022 9:30am - 10:30am
Location: Burton Baptist Church
Address: 2010 Plymouth Ave. SE Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506

Memorial Service
When: Saturday, January 29th, 2022 10:30am
Location: Burton Baptist Church
Address: 2010 Plymouth Ave. SE Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506

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