Dorothy “Tootsie” Rateau

DOROTHY “TOOTSIE” RATEAU, 90, a lifelong resident of Weirton, West Virginia, passed away peacefully on March 14, 2023. She was born on October 14, 1932, the ninth child of ten, to the late Milos and Dragica Solaja Rasich. A lady ahead of her time and sharp as a tack until the very end, Tootsie was a loyal and dedicated worker for the US Postal Service for 35 years. She took great pride in her work and was highly regarded by her colleagues and customers alike. Her friendly smile, kind demeanor, and her pocket full of dog treats made her a very popular mail carrier along her rural route. Even though it was not love at first sight, Tootsie met the love of her life, John E. Rateau, at the movie theatre, and they were married for 56 years until John’s passing in 2009. John was a combustion engineer in the mill. They were blessed with four children, nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Tootsie was a proud member of the Democratic Executive Committee and life-long Democrat. She was thrilled to see President John F. Kennedy when he visited Weirton. She was baptized in the Holy Resurrection Serbian Eastern Orthodox Church. In addition to her parents, and her husband, Tootsie was preceded in death by her great grandson, Collin Rateau; her brothers, George “Bobby” Rasich and Michael Rasich; her sisters, Molly Depew, Mildred Merlo, Donna Warren, Helen Barnabei, and Mary Reynolds. She will be remembered with love by her sons, Jon H. Rateau and his fiancé, Nittaya Mookdamuang of The Kingdom of Bahrain; Robert S. and Margaret Rateau of Moon Township, PA; her daughters, Renee Y. and Timothy Howard of Weirton, WV and Janeen S. Welch of Weirton, WV; her sister, Diane and Duane Morris of Saginaw, Michigan; her nine grandchildren, Halee (Noah) Elliott, Aurielle (Joshua) Sizemore, Timothy (Mallorie) Howard, Jon Rateau, Justin (Donna Delp) Rateau, Marc Rateau, Chelsea (Ian) Cowan, Alisandra (Zachary) Tieke and Lilliann Welch; and two great grandchildren, Kaeden Rateau and Nash Howard. Private family services were held at the Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home with the Rev. Larry Barkley presiding. Tootsie was laid to rest next to her husband at Saint Paul’s Cemetery in Weirton. Memorial contributions may be made in Tootsie’s memory to the Holy Resurrection Eastern Orthodox Church, 528 North Fourth Street, Steubenville, OH 43952. Share tributes at www.grecohertnick.com.