Rachel Lynne Babst Parker

Rachel Lynne Babst Parker passed away on July 11th, 2022 surrounded by her loving family. Before dying she had the opportunity to see and speak to those she loved most, and she passed from this life feeling loved and with the knowledge that her memory, and her courageous fight, would live on forever. Rachel was born on December 27, 1948 to Stanley and Esther Babst in Plainfield, New Jersey. She adored being a Babst, and she carried immense pride for her family. Her mother’s family were farmers, and her parents owned a five & dime, humble beginnings that built Rachel’s resolve, down-to-earth nature, steadfast support of those in need, and incredible sense of humor. She met her husband William (Bill) in 1969 while in college; Rachel at Syracuse, Bill four hours away at Rutgers. She liked to tell people that he seemed stressed early on in their relationship as he was studying for medical school, but she told him to snap out of it, and like any of her sons or former students can attest to, when Rachel got stern, you listened and did exactly what she said. They married in 1970 and lived as the ultimate team, true partners for more than 52 years. Together they built a life and a family that many would look to for inspiration, as a blueprint for how to find your soulmate, and work through life’s ups and downs while never allowing anything to get in the way of love and commitment. Rachel often said that all she ever wanted to be was a mother, and what a mother she was. Her children could do no wrong, and she relished every moment raising Aaron, Evan and Brian. Being constantly surrounded by boys couldn’t have been easy, but Rachel cherished everything about her sons, and showered them with love, helped them excel at school, cheered them on in sports, and made sure, like she was taught from her mother Esther, that the best way to show affection was through food. Bill and the boys ate like kings, and Rachel always found an excuse to bake something sweet, like her famous chocolate chip cake or her mother’s hamentashen. As the boys got older, Rachel went back to get her teaching credential, eventually becoming a middle school English and social studies teacher at Temple Emanuel Community Day School, her boys’ elementary school. She was known for being a tough but fair teacher, and even to this day, former students, many of whom were friends with her sons, marvel at how she could keep them in line in the classroom, but shower them with love and with fresh-baked cookies whenever they came to her house to play. Rachel cherished reading, loved hiking with her friends in Los Angeles and later San Diego, and loved spending time with her family. She spent her years in San Diego doting on her grandchildren. She was Colin’s best friend and play partner, and she was magic at providing Andrew with a calm lap for long naps. Being surrounded by her closest friends and family, her husband and sons and later daughters-in-law and grandsons made her the happiest. Rachel was a steadfast advocate for compassionate end-of-life choices, and campaigned to change laws around medical aid in dying after her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. When Rachel received the same diagnosis in early 2022, she knew her fight would continue on, eventually in her honor and memory. In lieu of flowers, a donation to Compassion & Choices will honor Rachel’s fight, and help ensure one day, people with serious illnesses will be able to end their lives humanely, and on their own terms. https://secure.everyaction.com/MlNtCIEGgUSwBHRRoqNdFw2 Rachel is survived by her husband William, her sons Aaron (Alison), Evan (Maggie), and Brian (Vale), her grandsons Colin and Andrew, and her beloved brother Mark Babst.