Renata Elizabeth Yragui

Our mother, Renata (Rae) Elizabeth Yragui, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on May 22, 2026. She was 93 years old.

Born Renata Elizabeth von Weiss August 21, 1932, in Portland, Oregon, she was the fourth of five children, including Heinz von Hungen (half-brother), Hans, Marga, and younger brother David. Raised in a German-speaking household, she was always thrifty, growing up during the depression and then WWII. The family moved from Portland to Mt Angel and Salt Lake City, ultimately returning to Portland and the Mt Tabor neighborhood where she graduated from Immaculata High School.

After high school, Rae began working at a doctor’s clinic on Greeley Avenue. She took dance and modeling classes and became quite popular in local Catholic singles circles. It was at a Chancellor Club dance that she was swept off her feet by her future husband, Leon Yragui.

It wasn’t just the dancing that charmed this couple, it was a recognition that they both shared a deep faith and prayed the rosary. Father Alcuin, pastor at old St Josephs German Catholic Church in Portland, vetted and guided the couple, and married them several months later in November of 1953.

Their first home, on N. Moore St in Holy Redeemer parish, filled quickly with James, born Oct 1954, Thomas, born Sept 1956, and then David who lived with them in high school. Their second home, on W. Stark Street off Leahy Road, saw the arrival of Laurie, Apr 1962, and Lisa, Sept 1964. Her youngest, Joseph, was born Dec 1975, arriving after she had returned to school to study Nursing and had graduated.

Rae’s Nursing career took her through several local area hospitals, ending at Tuality Community Hospital in Oncology. Even after retiring, she continued her career through parish nursing and foot care at local long term care facilities.

Rae was an excellent chef, teasing us kids with delicious snacks after school, or putting on gorgeous and delicious dinner parties for friends and family. She approached everyone with a charming, caring and listening heart, always seeking the best for others, for example, finding ever-more clever hiding places for her chocolate chip cookies in order to “protect us” from overindulgence.

Rae was preceded in death by her daughter Laurie in 2004 and husband Leon in 2023. She is survived by her younger brother David, sons Jim, Tom and Joe, daughter Lisa, 3 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. She was a devoted sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother and nurse, but was especially devoted to her faith and adoration of the Virgin, praying the rosary weekly in her final years. A funeral Mass will be held at St Pius X parish on July 24 at 11:00AM with reception to follow.