Jan. 28--Grace Rarity taught physical education at Oak Park and River Forest High School for 10 years beginning in the early 1940s and then returned to the school in the early 1970s, working as a secretary in the college and career department for much of the next 20 years.
In that role, she helped get work permits for students younger than 16 and helped students explore career opportunities related to their interests, according to Don Vogel, who worked with Rarity before retiring as director of the library.
"She helped kind of open their eyes to what they might do with their interest in art, or their interest in history, or in mathematics," Vogel said.
Rarity, 94, died of natural causes Jan. 22 in her Oak Park home, where she had lived for more than 65 years, according to her daughter, Glenda Rarity Stevens.
She was born Grace Staver in Dodgeville, Wis., and grew up in nearby Mineral Point. After graduating from Mineral Point High School, she received a bachelor's degree in science from the University of Wisconsin -- Madison. Rarity told family members officials from Oak Park and River Forest High School came to the campus to recruit teachers during her senior year and she got a job offer to teach at the school.
She quickly became what Vogel called "a die-hard booster" for the school and the town. "I think she probably enjoyed the small town feeling of Oak Park," Vogel said.
She met Chicagoan George Rarity at church, according to her daughter. The two married in 1950 and in 1953 she left teaching to raise her children.
In 1973, she returned to OPRF as a library assistant before moving to the college and career area until her retirement in 1992.
In retirement she remained closely connected to the high school through an organization of OPRF retirees called the Super DOOPERS, according to Chris Matuszczak, a younger retiree who helps coordinate communications with the group's members.
"Super DOOPERS stands for Dear Old Oak Park-ers," said Matuszczak. She called Rarity "my encyclopedia" for her ability to provide information on older retirees, including divisions and departments where they worked and contemporaries.
"She was always able to help me make connections between the old-timers," Matuszczak said.
Rarity was active with a number of clubs and organizations including the Austin Jr. Woman's Club and the OPRF Infant Welfare Society. Her daughter said Rarity recently had become involved with the Nineteenth Century Charitable Association in Oak Park and their Social Welfare Sewing Group and the Forest Park Senior Center.
Kathy Moran, membership vice president of Nineteen Century Charitable Organization, said Rarity came into the club through the needle arts program, where participants sew, crochet or knit items for local non-profit organizations, most of which benefit children and families.
"She would sew blankets and knit and crochet scarfs," Moran said. "She was very talented and really kept our group together."
Rarity, Moran said, often decorated the room where the group met. "She was a treasure to us -- she made things much more fun when our group got together," Moran continued. "A great lady and a lovely woman, she always did for others."
In addition to her daughter, Rarity is survived by a son, Graham, and two grandchildren.
Her husband died in 2002.
Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until a 4 p.m. service Sunday in Drechsler, Brown Williams Funeral Home, 203 S. Marion St., Oak Park, IL
Megan is a freelance reporter.
