Carreira, M.D., Rafael P.
Rafael P. Carreira entered eternal life on July 27, 2022 surrounded by his devoted family. Born in Santa Clara, Cuba on July 11, 1936, Rafael developed a lifelong passion for learning and recognized the importance of education in furthering his desire to help others. After the onset of the Cuban revolution, Rafael fled Cuba and settled in Madrid, Spain. Special gratitude is owed to Padre Agnelio Blanco, who not only welcomed Rafael and many other Cubans into his home in Madrid, but also introduced Rafael to his future wife Isabel, another Cuban exile. In 1963, Rafael graduated with a medical degree from Universidad de Madrid and then moved to Chicago where completed his psychiatry residency and child psychiatry fellowship. Dr. Carreira went on to spend nearly 50 years providing medical care, predominantly in Chicago’s underserved areas and for various immigrant communities.
On August 14, 1965, Rafael married his wife Isabel in Chicago, forming a loving relationship that God blessed with five children and fourteen grandchildren. Together with Isabel, he welcomed his parents from Cuban exile into their home. The Catholic faith was his core and pillar. An active parishioner at St. Norbert in Northbrook for 47 years, Rafael also served several organizations including the Catholic Physicians Guild, Aid for Women and Illinois Right to Life.
Dr. Carreira will be remembered for his faith-filled and pious life and his deep love for his family and wife of 57 years. He shared his joyful and gregarious spirit with everyone he met. His life was filled with compassionate dedication to those with mental health challenges, a profound love for music, including participation in his parish choir, enjoyment of fluency in five languages and an intense curiosity for scripture, science, history, culture, and politics.
Rafael was the beloved husband of Isabel Suarez Carreira; loving father of Rafael, Ana-Maria (Jonathan) Wattelet, Hortensia (Anthony) Esquivel, Dominic (Alicia), and Fernando (Stephanie); cherished grandfather of Christian, Courtney, Connor, Thomas, Matthew, Michael, Anthony, Isabel, Gabriella, Juliana, Dominic, Lucas, Christopher, and Nicholas; and fond uncle of Domingo Manuel, Maria, Erick, and Marta. He was preceded in death by
his parents Domingo and Maria Hortensia and his brother Domingo.
Visitation and Rosary will be held Friday, August 5, 2022 at 1240 Waukegan Road, Glenview from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. On Saturday, August 6, 2022, visitation will be held at St. Norbert Catholic Church, 1809 Walters Ave., Northbrook at 9:15 AM followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM with live stream available at (www.northbrookcatholic.church/ livestream). In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Aid for Women, 8 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 1418, Chicago, IL 60603 (www.helpaidforwomen. org) or Catholic Charities, P.O. Box 7154, Carol Stream, IL 60197-7154 (https://www.catholiccharities.net) Funeral information 847-998-1020.