Rachel Marita Clare Zacharias, a priceless human being, woman, made in the image of God; beloved mother, partner, daughter, sister, niece, cousin and friend, was taken unexpectedly from life here, into the hands of the loving and merciful God; on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at the age of 39 years, in Grande Prairie, Alberta. We who love her are bereft, and in great sorrow.

Precious Rachel, second child after dear Brandon (also passed September 23, 2019) was born May 11, 1984, in Vancouver, BC, in Saint Paul's Hospital. Unforgettably, her mother had a quick labour of perhaps four hours; and the doctor agreed that both healthy baby and mother could go home that very night. No waiting around!

Rachel and her siblings (Brandon, Austin-Judah, and Yaysha) grew up in both Vancouver and Richmond, BC. Though very early on, her life was "disrupted" by a trip, for a few months, to Berkeley, California, USA. Brandon was four, Rachel was one: her Daddy had a brief job with Spiritual Counterfeits Project. One most memorable event was when Bryan and Judy took their little two, on the very fast Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) train, to the San Francisco Zoo. Rachel was asleep in her walker when we entered the Lion House. A precocious lioness roared; a big male in front of us answered. She replied. Shortly, the entire Lion House erupted in full chorus, and the dearest tiny Rachel awoke up suddenly in that uproar, and began crying! Oh, what we can not forget, nor ever shall.

In the early years Rachel's mother taught her, and her siblings, to bake home bread from scratch ("Baker man, stretch your dough, roll it over press down and out and do it again...turn it around!" was the song their mother taught, and use of the rolling pin. Judy taught her and brother early basic piano (Clementi!), they helped plant Scarlet Runners and Sweet Peas, they walked the little Skye Terrier Jamie, they climbed up Lynn Valley on Mt. Seymour, they rode the train up the Fraser Canyon, and learned to ski on the north Vancouver Mountain slopes. So many things!! How could you ever list them? Rachel played flip-a-dip and "elephants on parade'' (and "camel attack" on Dad's back) with her parents and older brother, and doted on her younger Austin-Judah and Yaysha, drawing funny pictures, and writing magical stories (and naming them very creative little nicknames—Crocus? Dough Bird?) etc. Judy knitted and crocheted with her, so much home artistry. Friend Rika, a stained-glass artist, noted early on Rachel's detailed sketch talent, she would draw princesses with immensely detailed gowns!

Along the way Rachel did confess Christ Jesus as her Saviour, she was baptized in Richmond Christian Fellowship in her teens. We read every night as a family: Bible Stories, Tolkien and Lewis and other great writers. Rachel and her siblings watched classic films and even Shakespeare in Valleyview, AB, and Kansas City, Missouri, and then here in Grande Prairie, Rachel continued with her passion for writing, dancing, exercising, singing and music. And chefery: Rachel loved cooking and made some astounding entrees. One her father Bryan called "Rachel's Hippopotamus Burger", it was so stuffed. Rachel's four precious children were born in Grande Prairie, AB. This Momma-Bear was all about her babies. She loved to swim with them, enjoy muddy river days, take them on date nights, go sledding, sing and rap with them, create very funny, unique nicknames and lots of endless kisses and cuddles. Holidays were this lady's favorite from abundant meals and gifts to spreading the spiders and cobwebs all over the house. Christmas was a huge playhouse and mountains of gifts. Rachel took pleasure in decorating and interior design and really made it feel like home. There was always a calling for her to reach out to those in need.

Our dear Rachel loved very hard, and you could feel it. She wanted to bring people together. She was lively, generous, and very funny. We really loved laughing with her. Rachel Marita Clare is and always will be before all a loving mother and a precious child of God.

May Rachel's sudden departure be overruled by the God of love and mercy; and used as only He can, even with tragedy and sorrow and suffering, to bring blessing and mercy on all of us: upon Rachel herself; upon Rachel's dear, dear children, and all her family, and all whom she knew upon the way, in both the hard, and the easy, days and ways. May the grace of Christ erupt, with great power, into unexpected places; in the wisdom and power and vast goodness of God; who can reach far beyond our limits.

Lord God, Have Mercy. Light in the darkness; and to illumine and expel the darkness. And bring everlasting light.

Rachel Zacharias will be forever loved and missed by her children: Leilah, Titus, Attila and Cesar; her father and mother Bryan and Judy; her siblings: Brandon (in heaven), Austin, and Yaysha; her Zacharias uncles and aunts: Mark (Pat), Lee and Chriss and family; Scott (Ramona) and their children (and children's children) Daniel (Alician), Hannah (Fred), Charity (Quinn); Miriam (Michael LeRoux), and their children Timothy (Charity), and Harmony; numerous relatives; and the fathers Curtis Augustus and Mohamed Smiley. Amongst the Buenafes, on Judy’s side of the family Rachel's many aunties and uncles: Rita (Mark)-(Rita in heaven); Jane, Susan, Gloria (in heaven), David, Jeannie, Alice, Elly, Julie, Margaret and Ruth; their mates and many cousins. Rachel will be dearly missed by her many friends.

We love you Rachel with all our hearts and we will always be together, on earth and in the home of our heavenly father God!

For Rachel, her children, all our children and children's children. Forever.

“Ah my children, my daughters and sons. For you I am praying, where e'er you may run. When you are wrong, I pray God go with you into that night. When you are right, I pray God bless you--that you be not proud, but filled with His light. I pray he deliver you from the ancient tempter's lies; That you will see God's glory, and see with His eyes. This very night, I will not cease to cry Heaven for you: 'De Profundis': Out of the Depths. Even whilst I sleep.

--The strength of Christ infill you, surround you, overshadow you, undergird you, go before you, follow behind you. Forever. In the name of the blessed One, in Three: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Love and Amen.”