Urairat “Rae” Lipiec, 79, of Rutherford, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 1, 2023 at her home with her family by her side.
Rae was born on August 6,1943 in Bangkok, Thailand, and was the eldest of nine children. She earned her Bachelors degree in accounting from Bangkok College. In 1966, at the age of 23, Rae immigrated to the United States and earned her masters from Fairleigh Dickerson University in Rutherford New Jersey.
Rae owned a bar in New York’s SOHO district during the late 1960’s while also working as a bookkeeper. It was at her bar where Rae met her soul mate Jerome (Jerry) M. Lipiec. They became man and wife on August 25, 1978 and were married for 41 years before he passed away in 2019.
After closing the bar in the early 70’s, she was employed with Collection XIIX, Inc. in NYC. After 40 years of service, Rae retired as the company's CFO in 2011.

She loved gardening and was often told she had a “green body” due to her beautiful gardens and ability to grow anything. She was known to be able to resurrect many plants from the dead. Rae also loved traveling with her husband Jerry. They enjoyed going to Atlantic City, cruising, and traveling to destinations such as Alaska, Central America, and the Caribbean. They often visited Thailand to see her family.  

Rae is now joined with the love of her life, who has been waiting for her.
Rae will be deeply and forever missed by her daughters, Lily Yee and husband Steven, Kathy Ross and husband David, her siblings, her beloved grandchildren, Matthew and Rebecca, and many loving friends.
 
Family will receive friends July 5, 2023 from 12pm to 3pm and 7pm to 9pm with a Buddhist Service from 7 to 8pm at the Calhoun-Mania Funeral Home, 19 Lincoln Ave. Rutherford.                   Funeral Service at 10:00am on Thursday July 6, 2023. All may gather in Funeral Home at 9:45am.

Private cremation