Raven Dushay: February 5th, 1960 — February 15, 2025
This section includes announcements of important events in our lives–births, graduations, engagements, marriages, and deaths. If you want to share an event with your community, please send a photo and a written piece to [email protected].
Just before midnight on February 15th, 2025 our dearest Raven gained her wings and took flight to the spirit world.
Raven was a deeply compassionate and caring soul with a remarkable life.
She started her life as Winnie Laure Weinshank in the City of Lost Angels.
She had a rough family life with a dad who was a gambler, two brothers, and a mom who was kind and compassionate.
The family moved frequently and Raven found her friends and solace in the trees in the backyards. She also found strength in her jiu-jitsu class and at the age of 12 she left home to make her own way. By then she was a black belt known as “Baby Black Belt”. She lived on the streets and met many interesting characters.
At a young age she gathered her only belongings; overalls, boots, a backpack, and a flute. A German shepherd named Freedom adopted her and they hitchhiked around California. Like the Joni Mitchell song, “and we’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden”, she set her goal on getting out of the city and moving to the country to create a self-sufficient lifestyle. She joined the seasonal workers moving from community to community picking apples, and planting and trimming trees. On her way to a Rainbow Gathering she ended up in Garberville where she met Paul Zucchini under a bridge. He told her about a community called Whale Gulch on the rugged Lost Coast of Mendocino County. At the age of 18 she finally made her way to a trade fair in Whale Gulch where she joined the group of women dancing in the meadow and they became lifelong friends.
For her 19th birthday she was gifted an EMT course by Nancy Peregrine. This started her on the path to nursing school and a long career in nursing where she touched the lives of many. She worked in the emergency department at St. Joseph Hospital, Redwood Memorial Hospital, and Mad River Hospital. She also provided post anesthesia care, and even completed medical missions to Haiti. With a special ability to connect with people on a deep level, Raven was never afraid to help the most vulnerable and down and out. She was a survivor of abuse and was a fierce advocate for those who were suffering and in need of a helping hand. Her twinkling eyes and effervescent smile would light up the darkest corners of our world.
Raven would teach you self defense, buy you your first vibrator, deliver your baby, tend to your wounds, rescue you, teach you CPR, and be by your side in life and death.
A great adventurer, a mischief maker, an inspiration starter. A mother, a friend and sister to many, a yenta, a musician, an artist, and a bright light. Her love ripples far and wide. Raven leaves behind a large community of friends and family. We will hold her in our hearts forever.
How Raven got her name
”I was laying down next to the Eel River and there were these Ravens dancing in the sky. I just felt like I was flying with them and was inside their bodies looking down at the river through their eyes. Later that week I was volunteering for an environmental protection group that was protecting the whales in Port Townsend. I walked onto the boat and a gorgeous woman captain says “Raven?” I said, yes. She goes, yeah, I thought so. You look like a fair Raven spirit to me.“
Raven’s Celebration of Life —- All are welcome
Sunday, June 8, 2025
3:00 pm – evening
Dinner main course provided (Mexican food). Please bring a side dish, salad, or dessert to share.
Bring your own beverage of choice (alcohol is allowed). Water, Coffee, and Tea provided.
Please bring an instrument if you wish.
Location:
River Lodge
1800 Riverwalk Dr, Fortuna, CA 95540
https://www.friendlyfortuna.
com/our_community/river_lodge_ conference_center/index.php, Please R.S.V.P. and let us know if you would like to volunteer to help with the event R.S.V.P. Here
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I loved her! We read The Mists of Avalon at the same time. She told me it was her favorite book, and I agreed. It still is. She said she fell in love with Morgaine. I’ve thought of her often, and not so strangely, recently. Fly with the Ravens, my old dear friend.
Raven sounds like a beautiful soul. Just a wonderment. Unfortunately, I did not know her. This was a beautiful obituary.
I decided to look up the book she so loved: The Mists of Avalon. The author was accused by her daughter of sexual abuse from ages 3-12, and her husband was a convicted child molester. Before you run and buy the book, please reconsider.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jun/27/sff-community-marion-zimmer-bradley-daughter-accuses-abuse
I’m not one to cry when people leave their bodies, but the tears are pouring.
i was very close to Raven.
This announcement was the first I’ve heard about her leaving. Thank you, Kym, and the person who wrote this obituary.
Raven was, is, very special to me.
I had just moved to Arcata when she and Connie met. Connie was my doctor and Raven was pregnant with Kia.
I was very ill and had to have infusions three times a week. Raven gave me the infusions and we would sit and talk while the I.V. dripped. We became very close.
She was one of the most real people you could meet.
The last time I saw her was at her house. She was working with pediatrics at Mad River and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I was shocked to hear she has passed.
I hope to be well enough to make it down for the memorial.
I will be on the lookout for her. People often show up here after they leave their bodies.
What a gift and a Light you are, Raven. I love you.
What a lovely response. I think that none of us could ask for a kinder comment on our passing than yours.
Thank you. I wrote her obituary. Raven was a big sister to me. I met her when I was 9 and she was 18. I feel lucky to have had her in my life for 46 years. Such a strong force of love.
RIP Raven ANOTHER ANGEL AMONG US