Raquel was a true angel on Earth, always putting the needs of others before her own. Her love for animals was unmatched, and she always made sure that every furry friend she met felt loved and cared for. She was a disciplined vegetarian by choice yet respected others choices. She never used products tested on animals and supported many anti cruelty organizations. She refused to purchase a pet from a breeder. She was passionate about only adopting an animal needing a home. Raquel's selflessness extended beyond animal welfare, as she was always there for her loved ones in times of need no matter how great the sacrifice. As an example, she left college in Kentucky to be with her sister during a very difficult time. Lucky for me,  this is when we started dating. She loved taking advantage of opportunities to volunteer for charity events and evening social clubs for children. Despite facing difficult challenges in her own life, Raquel always seemed to find her positive spirit and it was very common to see a big, beautiful smile on her face which was very contagious. You couldn’t help smiling back. She projected love and light. To see that smile in photos is one thing but in person it literally touches your soul. She was always genuine and authentic. She loved to have fun and make people laugh with a great sense of humor. She was an extraordinary multi-tasker and extremely organized. A raqstar mom, wife and auntie. 


Raquel’s cute cracky voice, laugh, personality and style was not characteristic of typical American girls. She was definitely unique, one of a kind and adored by many. She literally thought everything was cute and everyone was a cutie pie. She must have been seeing herself in everyone because she was the true cutie pie for sure lol! When I think of love, I think of her soul. She spread love and kindness without even realizing it. It came so naturally. The crazy thing about Raquel is she considered herself to be a plain Jane. I of course saw the opposite as I’m sure the rest of humanity would agree with me!


She was not a very ambitious woman when it came to self interest (except music and concerts) she only wanted to be a cute old lady, loving wife and mother. Those who knew her, knew Raquel was so much more than that. If you know you know. Her kindness, compassion, mindset and generosity inspired many and will continue to do so for years to come.


Although Raquel may no longer be with us, her legacy will live on through the lives she touched and the memories she created. Her impact on the world may have been small in size, but it was immense in terms of the love and kindness she spread throughout her community. In a world where it can often seem like there is too much negativity, Raquel was a shining example of what it truly means to live a good life. Though we may miss her presence in our lives, we can take comfort in knowing that her spirit lives on and will continue to have a positive ripple effect through her story, memory and the lives she saved. She will never be forgotten!


 Raquel's story reminds us that we all have the ability to make a positive impact on the world, no matter how big or small. We can all strive to be a little more like Raquel, putting others before ourselves and spreading love and kindness wherever we go. Her story is a reminder to appreciate the people in our lives who make a difference, and to never underestimate the power of a kind word or a simple act of generosity. Raquel may have been just one person, but she had a massive ripple effect that reached far beyond her individual actions. Her legacy serves as an inspiration to us all to live a life filled with love, compassion, kindness and generosity.


It's important to remember that we all have the power to make a difference in someone's life, no matter how small it may seem. Whether it's a kind word or a thoughtful gesture, our actions can have a profound impact on those around us. Raquel's story is a testament to the power of kindness and serves as a reminder to us all to lead with love and compassion. Let's honor her legacy by spreading kindness wherever we go and making a positive impact on the world, one small act at a time.


Raquel's decision to donate her organs after her passing is a beautiful example of generosity and selflessness. Her decision saved the lives of several individuals, allowing them to continue living and thriving. Raquel's legacy reminds us that we have the power to make an impact in the world even beyond our lifetimes. Organ donation is a powerful way to give back and make a difference in the lives of others, and we can all follow in Raquel's footsteps by considering organ donation as a way to leave a positive legacy. When you consider who Raquel is and her purpose with her time on Earth it is obvious she was an Earth Angel. I pulled this from google and it describes her perfectly…She hits on about 90% of these signs.


Here is a link https://www.kten.com/story/43565394/37-signs-you-are-an-earth-angel


What Does It Mean To Be An Earth Angel? Being an Earth Angel doesn’t mean you are perfect, it doesn’t mean you’re an angel (the angelic path is different from the path of humanity) and it doesn’t even mean that you’re saint-like. Like all of humanity, Earth Angels make mistakes, experience challenges, and feel disconnected at times.Being an Earth Angel means that you’re called at the soul level to help others, spread kindness, have compassion and make a difference on Earth by bringing the light and love of the higher spiritual realms into physical reality.

Here Are The 37 Signs You’re An Earth Angel:.

1 You feel different to those around you, and it doesn’t bother you to feel this way.

2 You can feel just as happy to be on your own as to be with other people.

3 You may have been described as a loner as a child, not that you noticed.

4 You always have an idea or solution to offer and love helping people.

5 You are a fantastic support person in the lives of almost everyone you know.

6 You are always looking for a better way to do something.

7 You rarely ask for help because you have an inner knowing that what you are doing is the right thing. Being helped is sometimes confusing for you.

8 You feel insecure in some of your relationships. You can easily sense if someone is holding back and you get a sense of what they are going through and thinking, even when they don’t say it. Additionally, you sometimes struggle to understand why people aren’t like you.

9 You have a grace that inspires people and you can lift peoples energy and spirit without much effort

10 You accept others wherever they are – even those that some can’t even tolerate

11 You always see a silver lining in every situation and You always see the good in people

12 You think in terms of possibility and potential

13 You have incredible gifts in whatever you put your heart to, the areas of writing, art, music, and healing are of special interest to you.

14 People seek you out to release fears and other painful memories and emotions

15 You aren’t so great about managing responsibilities, time, or boundaries

16 As children, Earth Angels have a tendency to be diagnosed with various cognitive disorders because of their lack of concern for the material world

17 It upsets you to see people in pain. It’s your nature to reach out to those who are suffering. Sometimes this means that you attract people who have a victim mentality.

18 You feel lost when faced with extreme anger and you tend to avoid conflict. You want to experience only happiness so avoid confrontation when possible.

19 You sometimes worry about how your energy impacts others and check in with those around you to see how they are feeling about you. You may even find that people on buses/trains move when you sit next to them, this is because your energy causes them to release their ´stuff´ and they start to feel very uncomfortable

20 It disturbs you when you can’t sense that your loved ones are connected with you.

21 You are not comfortable with your physical body – especially your feet. As an angel, you have trouble staying grounded.

22 Money and riches don’t motivate you or impress you, you accept people for who they are and what they’ve got.

23 Those around you often ask, “Where did you go just then?” because it seems you are often daydreaming. Fading out of conversation, or not paying attention.

24 You would help anyone who asks and often help those who haven’t asked for help. You sense their need before they do.

25 You often provide an alternative or big picture perspective in group settings

26 Competitiveness doesn’t interest you as you want to see everyone win.

27 You can serve others without drawing attention to yourself. You give without being seen and work as an invisible force behind the scene.

28 You are sensitive to urban settings and the reality of modern life

29 You have a tendency to feel different or even alienated from others. You can remember being teased as a kid because of your different interests and behavior

30 You have an amazing sense of humour that seems to help you cope with difficult situations.

31 You have a tough time being a part of crowds because you feel overwhelmed by the energy of so many different people.

32 You grew up feeling that you couldn’t relate to your immediate family. You feel less connected with your physical family or you were sent specifically to an emotionally distant or dysfunctional family in order to help them.

33 People you don’t know very well tend to tell you incredibly personal things about themselves.

34 People tell you that you look younger than you are.

35 You may have a history of addiction in your family.

36 You have a clear and strong sense of purpose. Even though you may struggle to know how to manifest this purpose on Earth, you know you must work to help, teach, and heal others.

37 You love the idea of freely spreading love, compassion, and guidance.

Raquel was born 6/6/1978.


She was born and raised in Chicago IL spending her early childhood in a 2
flat within a mid city neighborhood, Horner Park, now taken over by hipsters and yuppies. She lived with her mother, father, sister, two dogs and a few birds. Her family eventually moved into a house on the far Northwest side near Superdawg, when Raquel was in fourth grade. She attended John C. Coonley elementary school. Her sister Rita had the following to say about Raquels childhood.


“As a kid, Raquel had a huge sweet tooth. Her favorite go to candy for a long time was Sour Patch Kids. She always had a box of those or Twizzlers. One time she ate so many Sour Patch Kids, she was scared that her taste buds were going to fall off!


As she is 5 years younger than me, we had a slight difference in TV shows that we watched and enjoyed. She liked Punky Brewster, Full House, Saved by the Bell, The Wonder Years, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to name a few from the 80s. But the ones we enjoyed together were all the Saturday morning cartoons, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Thunder Cats, Different Strokes, Knight Rider, Cosby Show and so many more. But one of the shows we loved most was Saturday Night Live, especially the era that had Eddie Murphy. Of course we loved his Gumby and Stevie Wonder characters. But our favorites were his Mr. Robinson and Buckwheat characters, and most of all, James Brown – Too Hot in the Hot Tub skit.  She (and I) would laugh and laugh at all of his skits, even as adults when re-watching them together.


As with TV shows, we shared the same favorite movies. I know she loved, loved, LOVED Gremlins as a younger kid along with Goonies and Never Ending Story.  When she got a little older her favorites were The Lost Boys and Terminator.


All of us at a young age are forced to listen to the music that our parents listened to.  But when we get old enough, we branch out and listen to what’s popular on the radio stations and what our friends are listening to. Along with almost everyone in the 80s, we loved Michael Jackson, Madonna and Prince with so many others. I remember we would go in my parents’ bedroom with a small “boom box” and record our favorites on blank tapes from the radio stations. We would sing along with a fake microphone and dance around. 


As I got into 8th grade and especially high school, I was exposed to Ozzy, Metallica, Iron Maiden and other heavier bands. Since our bedrooms were right across from each other, she was exposed to them too and listened to them with me. But our musical tastes changed forever when I heard Pearl Jam’s Ten album my first year in college (in ’91). A friend of mine said that I had to hear this band. So I put on his headphones and listened to the first 30 seconds of Once and was hooked. I don’t remember how soon after I got the cassette tape, but as soon as I got it home, I told Raquel she had to listen to this band. She was 13 at the time and the rest is history.  As I said in another post, I influenced her musical tastes when we were younger.  But as we got older, she introduced me to music that I may have never been exposed to otherwise, and I am so grateful for that.”


Her childhood best friend Sarah had the following to say.


“There were so many things that bonded us together, Raquel and I. From the moment she transferred to our school in the fourth grade, we became instant best friends. We shared countless memories, but one of our favorite rituals was having lunch at my house watching Days of our lives and then after school walking to her house and indulging in the same delicious snack. Twix, string cheese, and Dr. Pepper were our go-to treats. However, what made it even more special was the straw with a bend. Raquel had to have one, and I was always secretly jealous because we never had straws at my house. It seemed like such a small thing, but to us, it was a symbol of joy and friendship.

After finishing our school day, we would rush to Raquel's house for snack time. Her mom was always there to greet us, along with their adorable white, curly-haired dog named Brandy. Brandy's presence added an extra layer of happiness to our afternoons.

Our Friday nights were reserved for our special outings with Raquel's dad. Every week, we would head to Peppes, a local restaurant, and order the same thing: granachos and rice. Before reaching Peppes, we made a stop at the bank and a little grocery store. The grocery store had a distinctive smell, one that I can still remember to this day. It wasn't an unpleasant scent, but rather a nostalgic aroma that created an indelible memory in my mind.

Raquel's dad was always generous and insisted on paying for our meals. I would offer to contribute, but he never accepted my money. It was his way of showing kindness and care, making me feel like a part of their family. Looking back, I often wonder if I even had enough money to pay for our meals, but it didn't matter. Those moments at Peppes were about more than just the food; they were about the companionship and the bond we shared. I'm grateful for those.

Raquel introduced me to Tetris and I can still picture her room with a television. It was a luxury I didn't have in my room, we spent a lot of time in her room, long late night sleepovers hearing Rita staying up late and hearing Rita laughing and I mean a laugh that was infectious to Jay Leno, and us up late watching Saturday Night live. Our favorite one was Simon, I can still hear her singing “hello my name is Simon and I like to do drawings, come do drawings with me.” And “Pencils”. Nevertheless, we spent hours playing Tetris together, singing, laughing, and creating memories that would last a lifetime.

As we progressed through high school, our friendship remained strong, but life began to change. Responsibilities and new experiences pulled us in different directions. Despite the changes, we still held onto the memories of our shared childhood adventures.

One of our favorite activities was going trick-or-treating on Halloween. We would arm ourselves with pillowcases, determined to gather as much candy as possible. We would stay out late, often being the last ones to return home. It was an annual tradition that we cherished, filled with laughter, creativity, and a shared love for all things sweet.

Though life took us on separate paths, the bond we formed in those early years remained unbreakable. The memories of our after-school snacks, Peppes dinners, church activities, summer camp at timberlee, retreats and countless adventures still bring a smile to my face. Raquel will always hold a special place in my heart, the friendship we shared will forever be cherished”

Photos from her childhood through eight grade.