A note from Jason
Rachel passed away just before 8:00 AM today, Tuesday, January 22, 2008. I cannot hope to duplicate her exquisite prose, and I am somewhat unsettled at this time. I simply wanted to get the information out to those that care about her.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 24th at 11:00 AM at Levine’s Funeral Home at 7112 North Broad Street, Philadelphia.
Burial will be at Haym Solomon Memorial Park: 200 Moores Road, Frazier, PA 19355.
Love, Jason Troxell
Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 24th at 11:00 AM at Levine’s Funeral Home at 7112 North Broad Street, Philadelphia.
Burial will be at Haym Solomon Memorial Park: 200 Moores Road, Frazier, PA 19355.
Love, Jason Troxell
posted by Rachel Troxell at 9:26 PM
25 Comments:
Thanks Jason. See you Thursday. The offer stands for anything you might need in the meantime.
Jason,
It took a great amount of strength for you to write this and you have been an amazying pilar of strength throughout this tragedy. I know you'll agree that Rachel is at peace, finally.
I had an idea. Maybe we could utilize this blog to celebrate Rachel's life. Friends and family could recant stories and share memories. It's just a thought and maybe reading the various stories would help us with the grieving process.
Jason,
It took a great amount of strength for you to write this and you have been an amazying pilar of strength throughout this tragedy. I know you'll agree that Rachel is at peace, finally.
I had an idea. Maybe we could utilize this blog to celebrate Rachel's life. Friends and family could recant stories and share memories. It's just a thought and maybe reading the various stories would help us with the grieving process.
Jason,
I just wanted to let you know what a privilege it has been to know Rachel through this blog. I met her a few times through a support group and found her to be lovely. What stays with me through meeting her in person is how much she loved you. Rachel loved you with all her heart, and it showed.
I will keep you and your family in my prayers.
~Evie
Jason and family - I am so so sad to hear this news - I was still hoping it was possible she'd make it.
Please let us know what you need - anything - we're just down the street.
Stephanie and Brett
215.287.7046
Jason,
I am so sorry to hear that Rachel passed. To know her was to know a warm smile, a kind heart, and a generous soul . . . but you already know that. The lives of each person who has ever crossed her path has been enlightened in some way and I feel blessed to have been one of those people.
I wish you continued strength . . . my heart goes out to you.
Patty
I never met Rachel but I felt like I got to know her through her writing. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Gila
I'm so sorry for your loss. I wasn't lucky enough to have met Rachel, but came across her blog when a friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was inspired by Rachel's courage and attitude all along the way. My thoughts are with you.
Mary Beth
I'm so sorry Jason. Prayers are coming your way.
I like Barb's idea of sharing memories about Rachel on this blog. I've been trying to think of a particularly significant memory, but they all feel equally warm...
I've known Rachel so long (almost 20 years), and we had so many good times together, when we roomed together in college, when I visited her in Berkeley, during visits in Chicago, Ann Arbor, Lafayette, and Philadelphia. Through all the phases of our lives since college we have kept in touch, and Rachel was always a steadfast friend. I would call her when I was happy, when I was confused about something, when I was sad, and she always had something kind and useful to say. I hope I was able to do the same for her.
One memory that has been coming back to me was our driving trip around Lake Michigan. We put our feet in 3 Great Lakes during that trip, and camped in beautiful wooded scenery. It was so nice to be in beautiful surroundings. I think it keeps coming back to me now because it symbolizes serenity and beauty, which Rachel, during her brave battle with this virulent cancer, came to represent.
I love her and I will miss her so much. My heart goes out to Jason and to Judy and Howard and Josh, who have lost such a wonderful human being. I wish you solace and peace.
Maren
Jason,
Thank you for posting this and keeping us all informed. We were neighbors of Rachel's on Judson St. We are heartbroken to hear of Rachel's passing. She was a fantastic person and we were so lucky to have known her. We are thinking of you all.
Love,
Sabra and Dan
I'm so sorry I didn't get to know Rachel I just join the lymp group last weekend, i have seen there work and it's great. With BC and LE brings people together like sisters she will greatly be missed. Just remember as long as you remember someone in your heart they are only a thought away from you at any time.
sharon Levine
Jason,
I am a friend of Aneira's and I had the great joy of meeting Rachel several times through the years. I also followed her blog in 2005 - 2006. I was so sorry to learn of her passing. She was an amazing and inspiring person. She is at peace. My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your family.
With sympathy,
Krista
Dear Jason, Judy, Howard and Josh,
Words truly fall short when I think of Rachel and her indomitable spirit, her grace and dignity, her immense, unfathomable courage, her incredible light and power, and the truly remarkable effect she had on so many people! She touched so many peoples' lives---so many more than I am sure any of us can imagine. I am so sorry that I didn't have the chance to know her better and to become her friend. I want you all to know that after attending the services and the funeral yesterday, I was so deeply moved, so angered, so saddened, so anguished and so filled to the brim with compassion for all of you and your pain at her loss.
I can tell you that I am sure that Rachel is floating in and around you and all of us, continuing to touch our lives and light the road ahead in her uniquely graceful and oh so special way ... and I for one plan to keep her in my consciousness daily as a reminder to live my life more fully and to acknowledge the fleeting nature of this life we have--- to confront my misgivings head-on and take action, to seize the moment without hesitation—the way Rachel did.
She was an inspiration in life and her soul will continue to create magic-- to shine forever like the bright and vibrant star she was. Although I was only with her for a single hour, teaching her energy exercises at the gym around the corner, I will never forget her beautiful eyes, her lovely smile and the strength of purpose that came through her every pore.
It is so true what you said yesterday, Jason: Cancer may have killed her, but it did not defeat her! She triumphed and continues to win and inspire from beyond.
I send you strength, peace and comfort and the most sincere wish that you all feel the balm of healing with each passing day, and that you continue to love and honor her by living your lives the best way you know how to make her proud ...
With love and respect,
Jennifer Kries
I didn't know Rachel, but it is clear that she was a beautiful, creative, intelligent person, loved by many. I wish you all healing and peace in your grief. I'm sorry it had to be this way.
Jason, Judy, Howard, and Josh,
I am so sorry to hear this news. She was a beautiful person, inside and out, and was lucky to have such a wonderful family and friends. We were lucky to have her too.
I'm thinking of you all.
Jamie S.
Jason,
I am so sorry for Rachel's passing.
She was an inspiration to all of us who read her blog.
My deepest sympathies to you and her family.
May God give you strength to carry on as we know she would have wanted you too.
I read Rachel's blog for the first time, linked in from the LymphaDiva site. I try not to read these to much, so many are depressing. I have been dealing with cancer since last July, similar to hers in many ways. I wish I had discovered her site earlier, her thoughts are both helpful and touching. I hope her posts remain for others to read. I am so sorry for your loss.
I did not know Rachael, stumbled upon her blog today doing breast cancer research as my wife has just been diagnosed with breast cancer in an early stage (DCIS). This is a brag blog, and a beautiful testiment, and I have added a link to it in my own journal as a man dealing with his own wife's battle.
Dear Jason,
I am deeply sorry for your loss. I stumbled upon Rachel's blog after the NYT article. Her strength and beauty are evident. I avoided reading in December because I was dreading what might happen. I checked in recently only to find that my fears were confirmed. The loss will never be overcome but I wish you strength to endure. sincerely, Saera
I am truly sorry for your loss. I did not know Rachel or yourself but I can certainly relate to what your family had to endure. As Green Cosmic Rabbit said, I too stumbled across Rachel's blog while looking for Lymphedema products for my wife who also had breast cancer, mastectomy, chemo, and radiation.
Rachel wrote a very moving, honest story of her cancer travels. She will be missed in this world but we hope she is in a much better place without any more pain and suffering.
Much love to you and Rachel's family.
Thank you for not taking down this blog. I am yet another woman dealing with breast cancer. It is inspiring to read Rachel's writing. Her gift is expressing thoughts I didn't even realize I had till I read them here. Her dialogues among her named fears were, for me, like a key in a lock I could not open on my own.
I doubt it's much comfort to you to know this, but even now, Rachel continues to influence and inspire total strangers.
I felt compelled to visit this blog again today because I spoke about Rachel last night and the impact she's had on me…I miss you Rachel…and you live on.
Dear Jason
My name is Michelle, i live in Langhorne Creek, South Australia. In 2009 i found LympheDivas in a desperate search for better pressure garments than my physiotherapist offered through overseas suppliers. Relieved and over the moon, i placed an order with LympheDivas. i must have had a query (i don't remember what) because, you called and spoke to me personally! i remember saying i couldn't believe you phoned at that un-Godly hour just to speak with me about whatever the matter was - an email would have sufficed i thought.You explained you were working with LympheDivas to continue what Rachel created. Not good with tech, i found Rachel's story after receiving that first order. Looking for new gauntlets, i found her account of hospice just today (22/08/20). She was very brave and generous sharing those last weeks so honestly. A wonderful soul. You and your family, please all take care in these strange, challenging times. All the best.
i can't wear Rachel's sleeves any more, but i have a collection of her gauntlets that share the wear - i think the last ones arrived three years ago!
Over the years i've hoped you would know the gratitude of others for what Rachel did, and you all ensuring her legacy - that Rachel shone a light out for every woman who ever felt the horror, fear or just plain disappointment that they would struggle with lymphoedema (Australian spelling) for life. That they would need to feel and look broken. That they'd be at risk of infection and further damage. That there was nothing they could do. That their bodies had been changed for ever by cancer - and then this "lymphoedema" shows up to break the camel's back. That they'd need to answer queries from strangers - "...what have you done to your arm?" - "... what's the bandage for - burns?". Some people concerned, some weird or plain rude. LympeDiva saved me. So many women/people will have felt themselves saved by your amazing, tenacious, creative, brave, and by all accounts, generous, wise and kind soul that is your big sister. This world wouldn't have been the same without what she gave. Thanks to Rachel i was able to share details of your product with my physio, who shared the information to other clients. Her clinic show clients garments i've outgrown, so they have choice other than the rigid, thick, hot, uncomfortable garments. They see and feel the actual thing. i thank the Universe for Rachel. She has passed, but women wearing one of her garments has a little bit of Rachel with them, every step they take.
Dear Jason
Something happened to that last post.. it could only happen to me - my sign off ended up as the last sentence of the first paragraph. Like i said so "not good with tech". Warm regards to you and your family.
Michelle, Langhorne Creek SA
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