Richard A. Braas

Richard A. Braas, of Niagara Falls, NY passed away on Thursday, November 6, 2025, under the care of his nieces in Adamstown, MD. He was born on September 14, 1943, in Niagara Falls, NY, the son of the late Paul and Mabel (Gates) Braas. 

Mr. Braas attended local schools and graduated from Bishop Duffy High School in 1961. He went on to earn a Bachelor's degree in English from Canisius College in 1965, and later received a Master of Arts in Teaching from Niagara University in 1969. 

In 1966, he started his teaching career at Niagara Falls High School, where he dedicated 32 years to teaching English and positively impacting generations of students. 

Richard had a deep love for reading, movies and travel. He especially enjoyed visiting European countries - from Ireland to Russia - with his late sister and his nieces. A devoted sports fan, he closely followed the Baltimore Orioles, Buffalo Bills and Notre Dame football. In his leisure time, he enjoyed attending sporting events and watching Jeopardy! and CNN. In retirement, he generously volunteered for eighteen years delivering Meals on Wheels. 

A devout Catholic, Richard was a lifelong communicant of St. Teresa's and later St. Raphael's Church. He was deeply proud of his family, friendships and students, and he cherished his lifelong friends Virginia, Elaine, Richard and Leonora, classmates from St. Teresa's School in the 1950's. 

Richard leaves behind eighteen beloved nieces and nephews, thirty-two great nieces and great-nephews, and nineteen great-great nieces and great-great nephews. 

He was predeceased by his siblings: Marilyn (Jack) Carr, Patricia (Rod) Irish, Virginia (Bernard) Zeifang, and Paul (Tanis Pedlow) Braas. He was also the uncle of the late Jack Carr. 

Richard expressed deep gratitude for his family especially nieces Cathy Conner, Patty Horton and Mary Ann Vailas, and nephew Mark Carr for their care and support in his final years. He also appreciated the kindness of neighbors who looked after him in recent years. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, April 24, 2026, at St. Mary's of the Cataract Church, 237 4th Street, Niagara Falls, NY. Visitation will be from 9-10:00AM with the funeral liturgy beginning at 10AM. Burial will be private. 

To honor Richard's life and legacy, the family kindly invites you to consider a memorial donation to the Richard A. Braas Memorial English Scholarship at the Niagara Area Foundation, a division of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo (a 501c3 nonprofit). This scholarship will support a graduating senior from Niagara Falls High School pursuing studies in English, journalism, or political science - fields that were dear to Richard. 

Donations made be made by using the link below: 

https://cfgbuffalo.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=8392 

Or by mailing a check payable to: 

Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo 

Niagara Area Foundation 

Larkin at Exchange 

726 Exchange Street, Suite 525 

Buffalo, NY 14210 

Please include "Braas Scholarship" in the memo line. 

Arrangements were entrusted to Rhoney Funeral Home, Niagara Falls, NY. 

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