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Joan Marie Schulist Raispis, is now in the loving arms of our Lord and Savior. She died in the
early morning of June 5, 2024. She was enveloped in the prayers of all her family and friends.
Joan was born on Feb. 8th, 1932 to Lillian and Stanley Schulist, of Chicago, Illinois. There she
was raised along with her three brothers, Jerry, Tom and Dan, all who preceded her in death.
She attended St. Ferdinand Catholic elementary school and Steinmetz High School.
She met the love of her life, Jerome Paul Raispis while attending a friend’s wedding. They soon
married in May of 1954. Upon marrying, they moved to New York City and then to Rome, New
York, where they started their beloved family. They were transferred to Baltimore, Maryland
and their family continued to grow.
Joan and her family arrived in Scottsboro in 1966, and has remained here ever since. She was
a committed member of the community and was active in many civic activities. She served as a
board member of the Jackson County Heritage Center. She was a member of the Music Study
Club. She was a docent at the Huntsville Art Museum, sharing her love and knowledge of art
with others. She was a substitute teacher at many of the local schools. She was a contributing
columnist to The Daily Sentinel. Here she shared her favorite recipes and tips for good
housekeeping. She also worked as Director of Volunteers for the local hospital.
Most important of all, Joan and Jerry were founding members of Saint Jude Catholic Church,
where she has been a dedicated and faithful member since its inception. There she taught faith
formation, sponsored individuals wanting to become Catholic, and worked tirelessly on creating
a spiritually uplifting environment both inside and outside the church. She represented St. Jude,
through her involvement with the Catholic Deacons Association as the wife of her husband
Jerry, who was the Permanent Deacon at St. Jude. . Through her involvement in the Deacons
association and social activities she was able to share her Catholic faith and to share her
knowledge and experience of a Catholic marriage, raising a Catholic family and living her faith.
She was an ever present member of the St. Jude choir. She was a stalwart member of the
Tuesday ladies a.k.a. the Crafty Ladies. They are a group of St. Jude women, who gather
regularly to share fellowship, faith, food and fun.
Joan was preceded in death by her dearest husband Jerry (2017) and oldest son, Joseph
(1959). She is survived by her seven children. Dan (Marianne) Raispis, Tom (Eleanor) Raispis,
John (Jackie) Raispis, Judy (Chic) Vincent, Andy Raispis, Chris Raispis and Stan (Pamela)
Raispis. Additionally, she is survived by 10 grandchildren: Edward (Jess), Stanley, Jody
Raispis; Paige Mullins; Paul, Daniel and Walker Vincent; William and Jacob Raispis; and Luke
Raispis. And, she has two great grandchildren, Hunter Raispis and Brynn Raispis.
Visitation will be held at St Jude Catholic Church from 5 to 6pm. A funeral mass of Rite of
Catholic Burial will be held at 11 am at St. Jude Catholic Church, located at 17205 Alabama
Highway 23 in Scottsboro, Alabama.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Jackson County Heritage Center, 208 S.
Houston Street, Scottsboro, Al 35768 or to the St Jude Catholic Church Building Fund.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.rudderfuneralhomes.com.
Joan Marie Schulist Raispis, is now in the loving arms of our Lord and Savior. She died in theearly morning of June 5, 2024. She was enveloped in the prayers of all her family and friends.
Joan was born on Feb. 8th, 1932 to Lillian and Stanley Schulist, of Chicago, Illinois. There she
was raised along with her three brothers, Jerry, Tom and Dan, all who preceded her in death.
She attended St. Ferdinand Catholic elementary school and Steinmetz High School.
She met the love of her life, Jerome Paul Raispis while attending a friend’s wedding. They soon
married in May of 1954. Upon marrying, they moved to New York City and then to Rome, New
York, where they started their beloved family. They were transferred to Baltimore, Maryland
and their family continued to grow.
Joan and her family arrived in Scottsboro in 1966, and has remained here ever since. She was
a committed member of the community and was active in many civic activities. She served as a
board member of the Jackson County Heritage Center. She was a member of the Music Study
Club. She was a docent at the Huntsville Art Museum, sharing her love and knowledge of art
with others. She was a substitute teacher at many of the local schools. She was a contributing
columnist to The Daily Sentinel. Here she shared her favorite recipes and tips for good
housekeeping. She also worked as Director of Volunteers for the local hospital.
Most important of all, Joan and Jerry were founding members of Saint Jude Catholic Church,
where she has been a dedicated and faithful member since its inception. There she taught faith
formation, sponsored individuals wanting to become Catholic, and worked tirelessly on creating
a spiritually uplifting environment both inside and outside the church. She represented St. Jude,
through her involvement with the Catholic Deacons Association as the wife of her husband
Jerry, who was the Permanent Deacon at St. Jude. . Through her involvement in the Deacons
association and social activities she was able to share her Catholic faith and to share her
knowledge and experience of a Catholic marriage, raising a Catholic family and living her faith.
She was an ever present member of the St. Jude choir. She was a stalwart member of the
Tuesday ladies a.k.a. the Crafty Ladies. They are a group of St. Jude women, who gather
regularly to share fellowship, faith, food and fun.
Joan was preceded in death by her dearest husband Jerry (2017) and oldest son, Joseph
(1959). She is survived by her seven children. Dan (Marianne) Raispis, Tom (Eleanor) Raispis,
John (Jackie) Raispis, Judy (Chic) Vincent, Andy Raispis, Chris Raispis and Stan (Pamela)
Raispis. Additionally, she is survived by 10 grandchildren: Edward (Jess), Stanley, Jody
Raispis; Paige Mullins; Paul, Daniel and Walker Vincent; William and Jacob Raispis; and Luke
Raispis. And, she has two great grandchildren, Hunter Raispis and Brynn Raispis.
Visitation will be held at St Jude Catholic Church from 5 to 6pm. A funeral mass of Rite of
Catholic Burial will be held at 11 am at St. Jude Catholic Church, located at 17205 Alabama
Highway 23 in Scottsboro, Alabama.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Jackson County Heritage Center, 208 S.
Houston Street, Scottsboro, Al 35768 or to the St Jude Catholic Church Building Fund.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.rudderfuneralhomes.com.
