I only momentarily worked with Racheal at CMOP, but my gosh was she knowledgeable. I knew I could call Racheal and get the answer I needed, references, other people I could talk with to learn more, and a friendly ear, no matter how stupid my question. She never made me feel silly for not knowing something and she was always willing to take my phone call - despite my embarrassment every single time. 

I will cherish our conversations. Racheal’s calm and receptive demeanor will live on with many at CMOP and I will do my best to continue her kindhearted temperament in my professional career and personal life. I am so grateful to have worked with her. 

I talked to Racheal only 9 days before she passed. I was asking if she was going to be retiring soon like many others, knowing she could never be replaced, and she joked she would probably die first. I had no idea how sick she was and that she wasn’t actually joking. I have heard her name for 17 years at CMOP and knew how important she was, but didn’t have the opportunity to work more directly with her until the last 6 years. Her passion and knowledge are unmatched. I love that during our last conversation she mentioned that every year she reminds her people that their job is not to kill people. She knew just how important the work she did was and she conveyed that to everyone she worked with. Even though most things feel very “IT”, they are all important and directly impact patient safety and she was so right.

I wish Racheal’s children so much peace and comfort during this time of loss. I lost my dad this year and one of my friends share this with me: “Grief is one of those things that feels as big as love— just as big, just as immeasurable. The grief you feel is evidence of a life well lived.” 

It saddened me to hear of Racheal passing.  Her knowledge was without bounds.  Her willingness to share her talents with others showed her confidence and compassion for the mission.   She was the first to jump on a trouble call and the last to leave.   Never complaining and always finding a teaching moment in the chaos.   She was our rock star.  We love and will miss you Racheal. 

LaRue

I am blessed to have known and worked with Racheal in the past two years. Racheal always made sure everyone understood the “why” as much as the “how” - and the time she invested to teach and guide was incredibly valuable. I was always comfortable to say “that’s over my head” and know that she would never ridicule or even be impatient with me - instead, she would approach it differently. Racheal was always patient, wise, and dedicated. She was an advocate for the team and the Veterans she served. Racheal’s passing is a major loss to all of us! I will miss our conversations that covered anything from business related stuff to the random and often hilarious tangents and fun facts Racheal shared. I pray for God’s peace for all her family and friends that are grieving for Racheal! I will miss my dear friend and colleague - it was an honor and a blessing to know Racheal.

I’ve worked with Racheal in some capacity for the last 15 or so years, but we worked directly with each other over the last 4. Having spent more time with her over the last few years, it was pretty clear just how knowledgeable she was. And I don’t just mean in a work context. I can’t recall bringing up a subject where Racheal didn’t have a surprising level of expertise. As others have mentioned, she often referred to her knowledge as “useless party facts” but I always found them quite interesting and regularly helpful. I had mentioned that to her several times but it’s unclear if she believed me or not.

I’ll miss the long conversations we’ve had. Racheal was always willing to go over anything that was unclear or needed further explanation. Besides those sessions being incredibly helpful, I was always surprised at just how much stamina she seemed to have. I’m a fair bit younger than her and there were a bunch of times where we would be going over a topic and I’d have to tell her that I needed a break. It was amazing. If she hadn’t shared some of her health issues, I would have never guessed it based on her ability to power through issue after issue. I think this speaks to her passion and dedication to her work.

I’ll also miss her humor and quick wit. Racheal had this running joke where if anyone would end a call with “Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?” and didn’t qualify it as ‘work related’. Almost immediately with a hint of humor in her voice, she’d speak up: “Yeah, I’d like to discuss quantum mechanics”. I wish I had written them down, but she seemingly had a bunch of sayings I got a kick out of as well. “We the unwilling, led by the unknowing, have done so much for so long with so little that we are now able to do anything with nothing” was one of my favorites.

My condolences go out to her family and I will miss her as both a coworker and friend.

Rachel will be missed!  Grateful for the opportunity to know her both professionally and personally over the past 10 years.  Appreciated her insights, ideas, and ways of thinking that always challenged people for the better.  I’ll miss our long conversations at all times of the day and will continue to work to keep the ongoing list of “useless party facts”, which everything but that. 

I knew Rachel professionally and was always impressed by her knowledge, talent , and commitment to veteran healthcare. She was passionate about her work and the people she served . I am grateful for the chance to know her and truly believe she touched many lives in her time at the VA 

My condolences go out to family and friends.

Racheal was a wealth of knowledge for the VA CMOPs. In almost every Teams meeting I would learn something new about why things work the way they do (or should work). Why something works the way it should is as much or more important than how it works. Racheal knew the workflow and why it needed to be that way more than anyone else I know. 

Racheal cared about the health of Veterans and emphasized patient safety. Racheal saw through any nonsense and would not back down. I made sure I was prepared for those meetings.

Racheal will be missed in so many ways.

Racheal cared deeply for veterans and the rules that govern their safety.  She was intelligent, tough, and extremely dedicated.  She had a deep and thorough knowledge of bedrock systems she helped architect and build that have been - and will be used for many years.  She encouraged people to ask questions ("could be about quantum physics, anything...") and would go out of her way to help someone understand a topic.  She could also be light-hearted and often poked fun at herself.  She will be missed and remembered by the many people she's helped, made laugh, and imparted wisdom upon.

From the first meeting I had with Racheal, I knew this is not someone to mess with as Racheal is perfectly described as "sassy, smart, & quick witted...[took] no nonsense but [was] always willing to help others." Racheal was strong willed and was not afraid to speak up when something was wrong but when we brought up gaps or issues, Racheal dropped everything to help. Racheal had a tenacity to figure things out and that goal oriented determination to serve others will be missed.

Racheal was also good at sharing "useless party facts" (Racheal's words, not mine :)) and the most recent one was about plums being helpful for teething children. The last few calls I had with Racheal had a mention of plums whenever my child made a noise. Racheal was supportive of family and was never upset when my child could be heard on our calls. Racheal's kindness to children will also be missed. 

Racheal was the nicest and most professional person I have ever worked with; Her knowledge on the job was unmatched. I worked with her for the past nine years, and I greatly looked forward to every meeting we had.  She was super, and I shall miss her terribly. 

I enjoyed our time together more than I ever told her. From her lectures on obscure topics to arguing over the most ridiculous little things just for the sake of arguing, she was brilliant in all the right ways and always interesting. I'll miss the useless party facts, long, late-afternoon phone calls about nothing in particular, and her practical outlook on her own life. It took great strength to keep getting back up to work on being happy, but she did it repeatedly and without shame. She jokingly told me many times that people would celebrate when she died, and I think that was her way of saying that she knew she would be missed and that it would be okay. I will miss her very much. 

Outside on the pier in Crystal River (waiting for table) — with Racheal and So and Cindy’s sons

Great lunch on the pier in Crystal River, FL — with Racheal and So

The news of Racheal's passing is a real bummer, but I'm trying to focus on the good times. I had the chance to chat with her a couple of months ago, and she was still taking things one day at a time with her usual humor. Racheal's presence was a gift to our lives, both in our professional and personal capacities. Her mantra, "I don't want to have a perfect life, I want to have a happy life," was basically her life's philosophy. I've known Racheal for almost 20 years, and I'll miss our "kicking the can" tech talks at work, but I'll never forget her brilliance and passion for her work at the Department of Veterans Affairs National Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (CMOP). Racheal was a fantastic colleague, a great friend, and a loving parent who cherished her kids. You will be missed Racheal, but I know you're up there “in the Cloud” having a blast. Rest in peace my dear friend, Racheal.

Racheal was a true legend where we work. I have worked with her almost daily for 13 years and she will be missed both personally and professionally. Racheal’s dedication to our organization and mission, her encyclopedic knowledge and her willingness to share what she knows will be remembered by us all and will help us directly carry on the work she has been doing for thirty years.