Rachel Marie Downes

BELMONT — Rachel Marie (Bishop) Downes, 54, of Belmont, died peacefully on January 19, 2009, after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer.

Born in Sanford, Maine on October 21, 1954, she was one of 7 children of the late Richard and Alma (Theriault) Vinton.

During her life Rachel had accomplished many things. One of her most impressive accomplishments was regaining her sobriety. At the time of her death she had been sober for more than 15 years. During those years she had been a sponsor to many others who were going through this process. She was a huge inspiration to everyone she knew. She enjoyed the retreats with all of her friends and enjoyed sharing her story with others to give them the strength to get through the hard times. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997. Over the last twelve years, even while she was dealing with her own medical condition, Rachel was right there to give love and support to anyone in need. After getting the diagnosis of her cancer being terminal two years ago, she still had the strength to work until a month before her passing. Her coworkers supported her and helped her in so many ways, and she enjoyed going to work even if it was just for a few hours a day or week. When she was going through her numerous chemotherapy treatments and didn’t have the strength to even get up, she picked up a new hobby. She decided to make jewelry. She loved working with gemstones and learning about their different healing properties. She enjoyed sharing her creations with everyone at the oncology department, as they became her second family. She enjoyed giving the new patients who were going through their treatments words of encouragements, even when she couldn’t even walk there to do it, she always found a way. Rachel always thought of other people first even if she didn’t know them. The love and compassion that she always gave to others was something that made her so unique.

Rachel will be deeply missed by her two daughters, Christine Joyal and her significant other Michael Cox of Tilton, NH; and Carolyn Joyal and her significant other Drew Caron, and her two granddaughters, Allison and Julia Dyke of Belmont, NH; four sisters, Gloria Godin and her husband John of West Newfield, Maine; Linda Bishop and her partner Marguerite Mazza of Newfield, Maine; Janet Allen and her husband Steven of Springvale, Maine; and Barbara Hooper and her husband Rod of Lyman, Maine; two brothers, Edward Bishop of Pennsylvania, and Richard Vinton of Maine; and her closest friend of over 40 years, Sharon Marcotte and her husband Dan of Brookline, NH. In addition to nieces, nephews, and other relatives, Rachel had so many other close friends from over the years.

There will be no services per her wishes. After cremation, a private celebration of her life will be held in the spring with her family and friends at Nubble Light in York, Maine.

Memorial contributions may be made to LRGHealthcare Oncology Department and Lakes Region Community Health and Hospice or any local breast cancer organization of choice.