Thomas W. Rahaim, 68
Was long-time Westminster resident; avid sports fan

FITCHBURG - Thomas W. Rahaim, 68, of 12 Garfield St., died Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, after a short illness.

Thomas was born in Worcester on Feb. 24, 1940, the son of the late Philip J. and Yvonne (Vautour) Rahaim. He was a 1958 graduate of Gardner High School and lived most of his life in Westminster. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1958 to 1962.

He worked for General Electric in Fitchburg as a machinist for 35 years prior to his retirement.

Thomas was an avid sports fan especially football and baseball.

He leaves his wife, Shirley (Thibodeau) Rahaim; nine children, Laura Flanagan of Maine, Theresa Benedict of Westminster, Scott Paine of Fitchburg, Thomas Rahaim and Daniel Rahaim of Winchendon, Donald Paine of Westminster, Audra Rahaim of Peabody, Rodrick Paine of Gardner, and Michael Rahaim of Fitchburg; 19 grandchildren; nine greatgrandchildren; one sister, Marion Jones of Destin, Fla.; one brother, Daniel P. Rahaim of Westminster; several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Douglas Rahaim, in 1964.

The funeral will be held Saturday, March 8, from the Westminster Chapel of the Sawyer-Miller-Masciarelli Funeral Homes, 123 Main St., with a Mass at 10 a.m. in St. Edward the Confessor Church, 10 Church St., Westminster. Burial will follow in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Ellis Road, Westminster. Calling hours in the funeral home Friday, March 7, from 5 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the American Diabetes Association, 330 Congress St., No. 501, Boston, MA 02210.