Rachel (Breton) Yurek, 86, passed away peacefully on March 29, 2011 (her late husband’s birthday) at the Albany Medical Center, in Albany, NY.

 She was born on April 22, 1924 in Biddeford, Maine. The daughter of Charles Breton and Lillian Dubuc, Rachel is pre-deceased by her devoted husband of 61 years, Theodore Yurek, as well as her brother, Raymond Breton.  She is survived by the three sisters who meant so much to her; Laurette Willette, Theresa Allard, and June Silva (husband, Ralph) all of Claremont, NH.

 Rachel will live on in the hearts of her children who adored, respected, and truly enjoyed the time they spent with their mother; Theodore Yurek, Jr. and his wife Janet and Deborah Kaplinski and her husband Alfred all of Claremont, Bradley Yurek and his wife Linda of Selkirk, NY and Heather Lujan and her husband Rene of Basalt, CO.

 With the ten grandchildren who loved to be near her, she leaves memories of chocolate chip cookies and crepes, handmade sweaters and bathrobes, and the look of rapt attention she always had while listening to their stories. They are Heather Yurek of Boston, MA, Kristan Kaplinski and his wife Heather of Aspen, CO, Theodore Yurek, III and his wife Leslie of St. Charles, IL, Alex Kaplinski and his wife Olga of Del Ray Beach, FL, Valerie Yurek of North Yarmouth, ME, Lucas and Brianna Yurek of Selkirk, NY and Hannah, Breton and Loren Lujan of Basalt, CO. 

 Rachel was thrilled to have had the chance to hold and know her three great-grandsons Theodore Yurek, IV, Charles Kaplinski, and Alfred Kaplinski.

 After attending Hope High School in Providence, RI, Rachel took a job in the woolen mills of Stillwater, Rhode Island. In 1944, at the age of 19, she left the mills and entered the United States Army where she was a Private stationed in Idaho and Texas during WWII. During her years in the service, she worked in the photo-lab, served as a base photographer, and when, one day someone noticed she could sing, she began to travel and perform with the US Army Airfield Band where she was nicknamed “the song bird”.

 Upon leaving the service, Rachel traveled, worked as a photographer in the Meadow Brook Nightclub in Cedar Grove, NJ, and later as an AT&T operator before rejoining her family who had moved to Claremont. There she opened and ran a small grocery store on North Street, and it was while working there that she first noticed Teddy Yurek, who she would marry at the age of 23 and with whom she would spend six happy decades building the family in which they took such pride.

 While Rachel raised their four children, she was an active participant in her community. She served as the local PTA President twice, held all of the other PTA offices at least once, and served as Council President for the New Hampshire PTA. In addition, Rachel was a trustee of the Fiske Free Library for several years, a regular volunteer at the hospital, and a parishioner of St. Joseph’s Church in Claremont where she sang with the choir. From 1976 to 1986, she owned and operated Rachel’s Antiques in Claremont.

 Rachel was an endlessly affectionate and involved mother and grandmother, attending every football, baseball and soccer game, gymnastics, swim, tennis and track meet, dance and piano recital, equestrian show and school play.  Every one of her children and grandchildren can remember a moment in time when above all other voices in a cheering crowd, they could hear hers cheering just for them.

 All who knew her will miss Rachel Yurek, and she will be remembered as the center of her family; strong, resilient, and loyal; gentle, supportive and, above all else, loving.

 A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday morning, April 4th at Eleven o’clock in St Joseph Church with Rev. Fr. Stanley J. Piwowar, officiating.  Interment will follow in St Mary’s Cemetery. The Stringer Funeral Home, 146 Broad Street in Claremont is in charge of arrangements. At the request of the family, there will be no calling hours. 

 Rachel’s family send their heartfelt thanks to the White River Junction Veteran Hospital ‘s Home Based Care Program who came to her home weekly to give her

Supportive Healthcare and tons of affection and love.  God Bless America! What a truly beautiful tribute to a Veteran.  Special thanks to Dr. Deborah Peltier who we think is an angel and whose gentle touch will never be forgotten.