Rafaella Rae Alba

Rafaella Rae Alba, age 13, of Wayne went home with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ peacefully on Tuesday, May 21, 2019, with her family by her side.

Rafaella, lovingly nicknamed Rafi grew up in Wayne and was the firstborn of triplets to Pastor Michael "Myk" and Thessa Alba.  She attended Ryerson Grammar School in Wayne and then George Washington Middle School also in Wayne.  Rafaella always had a special place in her heart for music and art.  She loved to dance, listen to music, and play the piano. Church, school, and the mall were her favorite places to go to.  Rafi was a sweet girl who had an infectious smile on her face and was more than willing to share it with everyone she met.   She loved giving and getting big warm hugs and greeted everyone she met with a smile and a wave.  She enjoyed this so much that her family often teased her that she could run for President some day.

While attending George Washington Middle School, her teachers referred to her as “the light of the school.”  Her friends often sought her out when they were feeling a bit blue, knowing that Rafaella would be able to cheer them up with her sweet smile, a warm embrace, and joyous persona.  Her parents brought her up on a strong Christian Faith which would explain her jubilant, cheerful attitude. She cherished playing games on her IPad, eating popcorn, watching movies and snuggling with her Raggedy Ann doll.  Mickey Mouse was one of her favorite characters and a memorable highlight for Rafi and her sisters were when her parents took them to Disney as youngsters.  Rafi's family also recalls a recent memorable trip to the West Wing of the White House and The Bible Museum in Washington DC.  She cherished many friendships growing up, but none more than her dog Pringles, a White Mini Schnauzer.  Rafi brought joy everywhere she went and touched the lives of so many people in the short time she was with us. She will be sorely missed by everyone that knew her.

Rafaella is survived by her mother Thessa Alba of Wayne, her father Michael Alba of Wayne, two sisters; Danica Marie Alba and Chloe Angelique Alba both of Wayne, her grandmother Violeta Guerrero of Wayne, her grandmother Aimee Maramba Alba of Danville, CA, her grandfather Manuel Alba, Jr. of the Philippines, three aunts; Michelle Alba-Chua and her husband Jerome of Danville, CA, Baba Salvador and her husband Buddy of Melbourne, Australia, and Lala Castro and her husband Ricky of San Jose, CA, three uncles; Mont Alba and his wife Krystle of Piscataway, Vencer Guerrero and his wife Dianne of the Philippines, and Jethro Guerrero also of the Philippines, ten cousins; Kimela Alba, Klyde Alba, Cash Chua, Matteo Chua, Marco Salvador, Jericho Castro, Jazzlin Castro, Janessa Castro, Kiefer Guerrero, and Samantha Guerrero.