Rachel's Obituary

Here is a link to Rachel's obituary from CA, I will let you know when I know about the service at St. Joe's. 

We Must Not Take Life for Granted

It is with great sadness that I write this posting this evening. Our dear friend and SJS classmate, Rachel, passed away this morning peacefully in her sleep. 

Maria received a e-mail today from Darce, Rachel's friend-- Maria-  "Thanks for your thoughts and prayers, although her family and I have been expecting this it doesn't make it any easier.  I miss her already, and my heart is breaking for her Dad Steve and her beautiful kids Roman and Reagan."  Darce  

Also, this is from her CaringBridge site, 

There will be a memorial service for Rachel on Wednesday,October 1st in Bakersfield, CA. 

Steve will return to Minnesota at the end of this week. The family will be making arrangements for another service at St. Joseph's in Rosemount, MN.
That date will be later determined. We will post the date when that date is decided. Ryan Angelo, Reagan and Roman will be here for the funeral and will probably stay a few extra days

The family is doing as well as can be expected and they want to express their gratitude for all the caring words.  

I think it would be wonderful if we can get as many SJSers to go the service as we can, please keep Rachel's family and friends in your prayers-- it sounds like today they lost a pretty amazing person !!  

Reminder... Babies are Coming Soon !

If you recall, we had two SJS classmates who were pregnant at the reunion, as far as I know, they still are....  Jean is due on Saturday *NEW INFO* and Heather is due about a week after that... if Jean and/or Heather want to clarify their actual dates we can be thinking about you and your families as you add to them.  Shannon SW is not having a baby..... just to clarify . 

I have been thinking a lot about Rachel and how she is fighting for her life in CA and we have two classmates getting ready to bring two more people into this world--- life is soo unpredictable and we just need to be thankful for what we have !!!  Get out the shovel-- I are going deep!!!  =)  Also, keep checking Rachel's site, I know she and her family really appreciate the comments by SJSers. 

Jean and Heather... we also want picts asap....  I won't put Shannon SW on the job of getting the picts, you may not want to be stalked as you are recovering from childbirth...  good luck !!!  

Thanks Maria!

Maria received a e-mail from one of Rachel's close friends.....   Here is the e-mail..... Thanks to Shannon SW for thinking of the idea to take a donation. 

"Maria- I know you have no idea who I am.... I am Rachel's Farmington school best friend....  We have actually known each other since we were eight, she left for Saint Joe's shortly after that and we reconnected when she came back in 9th grade, we have pretty much talked to each other everyday since then.  I married one of her neighbors (a classmate of ours), her mom did daycare for my son needless to say we have quite a history, we are the best of friends.  I have been with her and her precious children every chance I get her original diagnosis nearly five years ago, it had been quite the journey.  Knowing Rachel you know that she has fought this disease with the utmost grace, strength and dignity.  I know you probably think blah blah blah...  I just wanted to express my deepest thanks to you and the other Saint Joe's classmates for leaving such warm wishes on Rachel's caring bridge website, and the cash donation and the video from the reunion.  Warmly, Darcey Fettig "