Rachael Leanne Jensen

1984 - 2023

Portland, OR - Rachael Leanne Jensen, beloved daughter, sister, poet, musician and loyal friend to all, passed away on May 27th, 2023 in Portland, OR of natural causes at the age of 39. Born on January 5th, 1984, Rachael was the fourth child of Jens and Kris Jensen, and arrived into this world with a determined, fiery and jubilant spirit, which she carried and nurtured during the entirety of her full and beautiful, yet all too brief life.

Born and Raised in Nampa, ID, Rachael made her passions and interests known at a young age.

Her early childhood was largely punctuated by her undying love of Broadway musicals, classic novels, antiquities, and a strong sense of justice, peace and equanimity for all God's creatures.

Rachael established herself among her four siblings as the de facto voice of vigilant compassion, stubborn idealism, and hopeful daydreaming. A true firecracker, straight out of the gates, for all to see and admire.

She developed an interest in the piano at a young age, and dove into her daily practices studiously and passionately, with a devoted interest in coaxing as much beauty as she could from the instrument and out into the world.

As she grew and developed her skills, Rachael soon realized that her musical ambitions would be best supported in a larger city. Shortly after graduating high school in 2002, she loaded all her belongings into her Datsun hatchback (which she cutely nicknamed 'Packy') and made the big move to Portland, OR, where she met many like-minded creatives, also determined to change the world for the better.

Her musical endeavors took her on lengthy tours throughout North America and Europe, which enriched her understanding of the world and made her family proud and awestruck.

Always a curious person, and one who felt every moment ought to be purposeful, Rachael taught herself the art of knitting, and during the seemingly endless, listless hours in the tour van, she crafted gorgeous scarves and sweaters for her loved ones, all of which continue to be held and worn lovingly by those who were fortunate enough to receive them.

It was during this time of relentless touring that Rachael made two significant discoveries: that the rigorous schedule of a music career didn't suit her, and that her fellow bandmate, Matt Carlson, was her true love. After years of being best friends and tourmates, Rachael and Matt settled in together and built a peaceful nest and home in Portland, along with her best friend cats Weebay and Liesel. A true, happy family, which lasted for many years until her passing.

While in collegiate studies, Rachael found and nourished her voice as a thought-provoking, distinctive poet. Her linguistic fortitude, biting sense of humor, and existential yearnings found the perfect outlet in her short-form poetry, of which she released two well-received volumes and performed many live readings. In these works, she deftly carved out a road map of her heart, mind and spirit, for all to see and cherish.

It was through these poems that she also found the means to express herself as she coped with the tragic passing of her mother, Karen Kristine Lindsey-Jensen in 2009, All the while guiding her readers, tenderly and without guile, through their own personal grieving. Her poetry stands as a proud testament of her desire to transform the eye of a storm into a smooth reflective pond, around which all can, and should, gather.

In more recent years, Rachael found inspiration in devoting her time and energy to feeding the houseless population in Portland. Her altruism shined brightly in her numerous acts of gift-giving as she crafted thoughtful meals in her kitchen and delivered them on foot to local food depositories throughout Portland.

Rachael passionately believed that no being should ever suffer or go without, and lovingly demanded of the world that all beings should be upheld to their highest calling, cared for, and loved unconditionally.

Her life's work, and the impact of it, is a profound testament to her larger than life, big and beautiful heart. Rachael's laughter, wit and beauty will be missed beyond measure by her family, her friends and loved ones. We're thankful she lovingly left behind so many significant treasures in her wake, to remember her by.

A celebration of life will be held in her honor on August 18th from 6-9 pm, at Lloyd Square Park, 1 14th Ave S. Nampa, ID.