Meet the Litaliens: The All-American Family with a Taste for Adventure

Photo Credit: Karen Presecan Photography

It's a rare gift to find a partner who shares your most crucial values and supports you in all of life's most thrilling adventures. But for Ben and Raeann Litalien, that's exactly what they found when their paths first crossed nearly 40 years ago.

Since their first encounter, the Litaliens have built an inspiring life together, filled with journeys to far-off destinations, raising a beautiful family that continues to grow, and bringing their passion for authentic connections to their new home in the Stafford area. Most importantly, Ben and Raeann have continued to nurture their relationship by taking more time to enjoy the little things in life, and they live each day with unwavering gratitude for where their journey has taken them.

Of course, all great love stories have to start somewhere. For the Litaliens, they first met while attending Abilene Christian University in Texas, and they knew from their very first encounter that their connection was something truly special. But sadly, the couple wouldn’t cross paths again for almost an entire year.

Finally, in 1984, Ben and Raeann were re-introduced by a mutual friend from their church, and within just six months of dating, the pair quickly became engaged, knowing almost immediately that they were destined to build a fulfilling life together. The young couple graduated from the University in 1985 and were married that same year, surrounded by love and support from their family and friends.

Determined to start their life together off on the right foot, Ben returned to school in 1994 to achieve his MBA from the University of Houston, which would become just one of many academic achievements he would accomplish over the course of his career.

Often called Dr. Ben by his students and clients, he would go on to become a Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association and obtain his Doctor of Management certificate. These achievements culminated in Ben opening his own business, Franchise Well, in 2007, where he works with dozens of business owners from a variety of industries to help them achieve their franchise goals.

When he’s not working with his own clients, Ben is a beloved Adjunct Instructor at Georgetown University, as well as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland Global Campus, where he hopes to inspire the next generation of great business leaders.

As for Raeann, she continued working in the business administration field until she achieved one of the most important job duties of all, the role of being a mother. After welcoming their first child together in 1987, Raeann left the workforce to focus her energy on raising their growing family, a task that has helped them maintain a healthy, vibrant household that continues to blossom with each new generation.

Ben and Raeann’s first child, Laura, was a young lady of many talents, including being a 4-year letterman in gymnastics and performing in theatrical stage productions throughout her years in school. After graduating from George Mason University, Laura married her wonderful husband Tyler, and the pair added three grandchildren to the family tree: Everett, Nolan, and Jack Ray.

Their second born, Rebecca, is an incredibly gifted dancer who not only won countless awards while performing on the dance team in school but also returned to her alma mater to coach dance and create choreography after graduation. Rebecca continued to pursue her love of dance by joining two professional cheerleading teams before transitioning to a career in cosmetology in 2005. Along with her husband Patrick, Rebecca is also a parent to their beloved son Benjamin, the fourth Litalien grandchild.

The Litalien’s third and final child, Jonathan, was also born with a gift for the arts. After falling in love with music at an early age, Jonathan began playing the cello in elementary school and would go on to join the Rappahannock Youth Symphony, as well as his school’s show choir. Jonathan currently lives with his amazing partner, Michael.

Like many parents, Ben and Raeann Litalien go above and beyond to support their children and now grandchildren, leaving the city behind and joining our community in order to be closer to their loved ones. However, that hasn’t stopped the Litaliens from pursuing their own dreams of adventure.

Despite laying down roots in Stafford, Ben, and Raeann have visited all 50 states over the course of their marriage. But their travels didn’t end there; the couple has been to all but one continent in the world, with their most recent trip being to the Philippines.

Raeann says that her favorite place to visit thus far has been London, England, where she enjoys taking in the nation’s rich history and learning all about the Royals. As for Ben, he plans to visit Kenya later this year, where he’ll be fulfilling a lifelong dream of going on a real Safari. To date, the couple has visited Dubai, the Netherlands, France, Ecuador, Australia, England, Spain, and Africa, and their list just keeps on growing.

However, the Litalien’s greatest adventure has been growing their family, and they’ve continued to keep some unique family traditions alive throughout the years. One of these traditions is the family’s annual Christmas picture, which includes a new theme each year. As of today, the Litaliens have 16 family members in their yearly photoshoot, and they look forward to creating new memories each year.

Plus, the family also celebrates the holidays with a gingerbread house-building competition, including multiple trophies for categories like grand champion, best use of materials, and more. The family typically divides up into teams of two and will spend hours planning and building one-of-a-kind houses completely from scratch, making it a huge event for their family and friends.

Since relocating to The Reserves, Ben and Raeann have enjoyed savoring the community’s endless amenities, especially all of the outdoor activities with their dogs, Tipsy and Shadow. You can often find the couple hanging out in the clubhouse, walking in the park, and taking a dip in the community pool.

One thing is for certain: the Litaliens are an all-American family with a unique zest for life that has made them a welcome addition to their growing neighborhood.