Rachel Jo Worthington

On January 28, 2012, in the arms of her loving parents and surrounded by her family, our beloved daughter and sister, Rachel, lost her 30-year lifetime battle with Cystic Fibrosis. Rachel was born on October 2, 1981, in St. Joseph, Michigan. Rachel was a beautiful child who grew into a strong and courageous young woman. She loved many things about life: spending time with her family and friends, the color pink, sparkly clothing and fashion, spending summers at the lake cottage in Charlevoix, her dog Ruby and cat Lilly, and working with small children. Rachel graduated in 2000 from St. Joseph High School, where she enjoyed being in the colorguard, listening to music, hanging out at the beach with friends, going to movies, and competing in the Miss St. Joseph Pageant. After high school, Rachel went on to attend Western Michigan University. Her studies were interrupted on November 10, 2004, when she received the Gift of Life – a bilateral lung transplant at the University of Michigan Medical Center. This miracle allowed her once again to continue on with life. Rachel’s family was thrilled to see her return to college and graduate in December 2005, earning a Bachelor of Science degree. Rachel then lived in Kalamazoo for several years, where she held a variety of jobs; her most enjoyable being a preschool teacher. Because of continuing health issues, Rachel returned to St. Joseph in 2010 to be with her family. Rachel is survived by her parents John and Mary, her brother Daniel, and sisters Michelle and Laura, all from St. Joseph. She is also survived by her grandparents Robert and Vivian Lamond of Lansing, Michigan, Jessie Worthington of Holland, Michigan, many loving aunts, uncles, and cousins, and great friends from childhood and college. A very special person in Rachel’s life was her grandfather, Dr. Ralph Worthington, whom she has joined in heaven. Rachel’s family would like to extend their sincere thanks and gratitude to the following: the family of her organ donor who gave Rachel a second chance at life, and the doctors and medical staff at the Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies and the University of Michigan Medical Center Transplant Teams. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00A.M. Thursday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 211 Church St., St. Joseph. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph. Friends may call at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Wednesday with Liturgical Prayers recited at 8:00 P.M. Donations in Rachel’s memory can be sent to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Michigan (www.cff.org/Chapters/grand-rapids/) or the Michigan Pulmonary Disease Community, Inc. (www.mpdci.org). Those wishing to sign Rachel’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Rachel was a teacher in many ways. She taught everyone who met her to love life and live it to its fullest, to be courageous, and to be brave. She will be sadly missed by all those whose lives she touched.