Rachel Ann Greenberg was born in Beth Israel Hospital, Bloomfield, CT on January 24, 1976. She passed away gently in her sleep on September 8, 2023, at home surrounded by her parents as they said a heartfelt good-by, with her mom holding her hand.
Rachel was a wonderful, sweet, happy child and adult. Born with Down Syndrome, she enjoyed every day of her too short life. Our family moved to Newmarket, NH in 1983. After checking out her room, she walked around our new neighborhood looking for her prospective new friends. She soon found them and was a joyful member of the local Girl Scout Troop for 8 years. She loved camping with her friends, singing around the campfire and snuggling into her sleeping bag.
Rachel joined her mother’s women’s service organization, the General Federation of Women’s Clubs – Exeter Area GFWC. She thoroughly enjoyed meeting the club women for supper and mingling with the members at each meeting. She was proud to wear her membership pin. She was well known throughout the many other women’s clubs that she visited with her mother and was warmly greeted and wholeheartedly welcomed wherever she went.
Rachel was an avid basketball player. Sunday practices led to the Special Olympics games each spring, which she eagerly looked forward to. It was a joy to watch her race back and forth on the court, with both teammates and opposing team members helping her shoot for the basket! She was an enthusiastic dancer and loved the monthly and holiday dances with her friends, always in a new, sparkly party dress.
Rachel loved to shop; she was quite a fashionista! The ladies in many stores knew Rachel and enjoyed chatting with her while she picked out a new Vera Bradley purse or new item of clothing. Annie’s Hallmark and Talbot’s were her favorites. Thank you, ladies. She was a young aficionado of eating out at restaurants – which lasted throughout her life. We are grateful to the waitresses at the Coach Stop for their happiness and kindness during our frequent meals there over many years.
Rachel was an independent young lady. She worked for 15 years at the Londonderry Moose Hill LEEP program as an aide. She helped the children with their tasks, served their snacks and helped clean up. Discussing soap operas with the teachers during lunch was a highlight of her days. She always knew which characters had been kidnapped!
She was also her mom’s travel buddy. Over 30 trips to visit family in Colorado were always much anticipated. She was eager to pull up to the kitchen bar and wait for her Uncle Bob’s famous breakfasts.
She was strongly and deeply loved by her parents Nancy and Nate, her brother Adam and his wife Joelle, rambunctious nephew Ari, her Aunt Linda, Uncle Bob, Uncle Dean, Uncle David, Uncle Ed, cousins Chelsea and Kailynn and many, many friends. She will be forever missed by all. She also was a bright light in the eyes and lives of loving family members who pre-deceased her – her brother Nick, grandparents and her many aunts and uncles.
There are no services planned at this time. If desired, please send any donations in her honor and memory to Our Place, a safe and caring residence for adults with disabilities that is in the planning stages. This is a 501©(3) nonprofit that is currently under a signed lease agreement to purchase the property. Donations can be made online at https://www.ourplacenh.org/ or checks can be made out to Our Place, PO Box 65, Dover, NH 03821. We will be forever grateful for the support we have received from family and friends throughout the past two difficult years. A huge thanks also to Amedisys Hospice for their care and compassion for us all.
The bustle in a House
The morning after Death
Is solemnest of industries
Enacted upon Earth –
The Sweeping up the Heart
And putting Love away
We shall not want to use again
Until Eternity.
- Emily Dickenson