Obituary of Kemraj Ragnauth

In Loving Memory of Kemraj Ragnauth Kemraj “Kem” Silvester Ragnauth, formerly of Barrie, Ontario, passed away at the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie on October 04, 2020. Kem was the beloved son of Sheila “Emily” (nee Peters) and Rodwell Ragnauth. He was born on December 08, 1964. Kem was the youngest of ten children born in Whim Village, Guyana. Kem will be missed by his nine remaining siblings: Joseph Ragnauth and family of Long Island, New York; Jacob Ragnauth and family of Queens, New York; Hyacinth “Sento” Mootee (nee Ragnauth) and family of St. Paul, Minnesota; Zuleika “Verone” Shields (nee Ragnauth) and family of Toronto, Ontario; Lorraine Cabose (nee Ragnauth) and family of St. Paul, Minnesota; Maureen Maraj (nee Ragnauth) and family of Markham, Ontario; Jerry Ragnauth and family of Schenectady, New York; Carel Cabose (nee Ragnauth) and family of Lakeland, Florida; and Loretta Blume (nee Ragnauth) and family of Kona, Hawaii. He is also survived by 18 nieces and nephews and their children (his grand-nieces and grand-nephews). Kem will be remembered by his friends and family as having an outrageous sense of humour and a keen sense of hearing, always observing and interjecting into conversations with hilarious comments, impeccable timing and comical expressions. Kem was an avid Toronto Blue Jays fan and enjoyed listening to country and western music. Kem emigrated to Toronto, Canada in 1985. While in Canada he worked as an Operator/Stacker for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind Foundation, after he began to lose his eyesight. In 1992, Kemraj had to stop working altogether due to escalating health issues. During this time, he lived with his sisters Maureen and often with Verone. He also spent time with his brothers and sisters for long visits, spending long periods of time with his sisters Sento and Lorraine in Minnesota. Kem returned to Guyana for extended periods with the help of his nephew Darma, Sento and Lorraine. During this period, he connected with his nieces and nephews, friends and relatives in Canada, the United States and Guyana. In 2013 Kem’s health continued to decline and his sister Maureen became his primary care provider and in consultation with family, made the tough choice to seek professional help within the long-term care system. In his later years, he received care at “A Helping Hand Always” which is a facility for individuals with complex healthcare needs in Barrie. To honor Kem’s memory, donations can be made through the Canadian Institute for the Blind, an organization that provided Kemraj with training, employment assistance and comradery during the period when he began to adjust to the loss of his vision. There programs provided a means for Kem to maintain his independence. Donations can be made by selecting the “in memory of button” on the page and entering Kemraj Ragnauth’s name in the required field. If you choose to send a memory card, you can have it e-mailed to his brother Joseph Ragnauth at jr.realty3747@gmail.com. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the Canadian Institute for the Blind for their kind support of Kem and its ongoing support of Canadians with low or no vision. Funeral services for Kem will be held at the Lotus Funeral and Cremation Centre on October 10, 2020 at 11:30 AM. Lotus Funeral and Cremation Centre Inc. will be handling the funeral arrangements. Friends and family are encouraged to participate by Zoom Meeting given the current Covid-19 precautions and to minimize risk to those who love Kem and want to honour him. The meeting code password is available by contacting any one of the family members noted above