Rachel Ann Claffey

2022 - 2022

Rachel Ann Claffey

Strafford, VT — Rachel Ann (Hanchett) Claffey, 59, died Saturday night, July 16, 2022, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH, surrounded by her family, after a year-long, hard-fought battle with cancer.

Rachel was born March 31, 1963, in Lebanon, NH to Barbara Jane (Ward) and Roland Ward Hanchett. She attended schools in Strafford, Alaska, and Nebraska before graduating from Thetford Academy, with the Class of 1981. Rachel married Kerry Claffey on July 16, 1994, at the United Church of Strafford.

Rachel was a baker, loved cooking, and she loved children. She had worked in Food Service at Dartmouth College, and at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center with her mother, before becoming the Food Service Program Manager at Newton Elementary School in Strafford, VT. During the summer she did catering, doing wedding cakes and cupcakes.

Rachel coached softball at Newton Elementary and played for the Women's team in Strafford. She was a member of the Lions Club, and very proud that she was presented with a Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, and a deacon at her church. She had been an EMT and member of the Strafford FAST Squad. She did everything she could for her town and couldn't go anywhere without running into a friend.

Rachel was a jokester and was beautiful inside and out. She loved fixing bicycles and was always on the lookout for bikes to be fixed or used for spare parts. She came in 2nd in a National Sharpshooter Competition and was presented with a DAR Award in high school. She loved being outdoors, going to York and Ogunquit beaches, camping on the Georges Islands, and spending time with her family.

Rachel was predeceased by her parents. She is survived by her husband, Kerry J. Claffey of South Strafford, VT; daughters, Krista Michelle (Patrick) Libby, Shannon Renee (Dan Dawson) Waln, and Stormie Raven Elizabeth (Amy) Claffey-Barnes; 9 grandchildren; brothers, Michael R. (Patty) Hanchett of Cornish, NH, Arthur R. (Kim) Hanchett of the Miller Pond District, Strafford, VT, and John J. (Tammy) Hanchett of Norwich, VT; close friends, John Merchant, Robin Kramer, Robyn Gilmartin, Julie Bardales, and Danette Harris; her "adopted son" Bill Bliss and "adopted daughter" Jessica Stygles; and many more family members and friends than can be named.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, July 30, 2022, at 10:00 am at the United Church of Strafford, 230 Justin Morrill Memorial Hwy, Strafford, VT 05072. The Celebration of Rachel's Life will follow with a Potluck at Barrett Hall, 248 VT RTE 132, South Strafford, VT 05070. Dishes may be dropped off at Barrett Hall at 8am on the 30th, before the service.

Memorial donations in Rachel's name may be made to the Strafford Lions Club, c/o Vince Robinson - Trustee, 5 Lent Road, Sharon, VT 05065. All donations going to this fund will benefit the kids of Strafford, so "No child shall go hungry."

To leave a message of remembrance or condolence, please visit the online guestbook at www.rickerfuneralhome.com.