IN MEMORIAM
RACHAEL ANN NEELEN (HUFF) HOACH
July 18, 1974 - May 20, 2022
Rachael Ann Neelen Huff was born on July 18, 1974. The only child of Patrick and Neelen Huff.
When she was born, she had trouble with her esophagus not closing. After eating she would have to stay calm, otherwise she would throw up. She carried around a piece of satin and rubbed it between her fingers while sucking her thumb. It was calming to her. She developed a deep attachment to that piece of satin and called it her Suckie and would become extremely upset if she couldn't find it. In an effort to wean her from her Suckie, her mother began "trimming" it with each wash. Eventually Rachael let go of it.
In September of 1982 her parents divorced. Rachael went with her mother but not far. The two lived in the basement apartment of their home on SE 8th Avenue, while her father lived upstairs. Rachael was 'daddy's little girl.' They went on several weekend camping trips to the beach. In May of 1992, she graduated from Hillsboro High School (Hilhi). For graduation, her father took her on a memorable trip to Hawaii. Rachael went on to complete her Associates Degree and enjoyed working as a paralegal.
On July 15, 1995 she married her high school sweetheart and love of her life, Ronald Hoach. The couple bought a house in NW Portland and in September of '96 welcomed their first child, a daughter, Elaine. A son, Andrew, followed in July of '99. She was an amazing wife and mother.
Rachael loved spending time with her family and taking road trips with no itinerary. Their trips to the Huff family's homestead in Heppner, Oregon was one of her favorite destinations and she had a hard time leaving to return home. She had many talents. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed canning and baking for her family and friends. She passed on her love of cooking to her both her children. She had a wonderful sense of humor and was always a joy to be around.
After her father passed away unexpectedly in September of 2005, Rachael became an invaluable support to her aging grandparents, making sure they had what they needed. When it came time for her grandparents to move out of their house and into a retirement home, Rachael, Ron, and her cousin Micholine, took over all the details of the move and sale of the house. In February of 2019, with the death of her grandfather Andrew Huff, Rachael was a comfort to her grandmother Katherine.
In 2020, during the pandemic, Rachael and Ron celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.
Without warning, in January of '22, Rachael suffered a stroke. She recovered some but required surgery. On May 10th she underwent the first of two operations to repair the circulation to her brain. The surgery was successful and she was healing well. However, on May 15th she suffered a catastrophic stroke on the yet unrepaired sided of her brain. She passed away on May 20, 2022.
When she was born, she had trouble with her esophagus not closing. After eating she would have to stay calm, otherwise she would throw up. She carried around a piece of satin and rubbed it between her fingers while sucking her thumb. It was calming to her. She developed a deep attachment to that piece of satin and called it her Suckie and would become extremely upset if she couldn't find it. In an effort to wean her from her Suckie, her mother began "trimming" it with each wash. Eventually Rachael let go of it.
In September of 1982 her parents divorced. Rachael went with her mother but not far. The two lived in the basement apartment of their home on SE 8th Avenue, while her father lived upstairs. Rachael was 'daddy's little girl.' They went on several weekend camping trips to the beach. In May of 1992, she graduated from Hillsboro High School (Hilhi). For graduation, her father took her on a memorable trip to Hawaii. Rachael went on to complete her Associates Degree and enjoyed working as a paralegal.
On July 15, 1995 she married her high school sweetheart and love of her life, Ronald Hoach. The couple bought a house in NW Portland and in September of '96 welcomed their first child, a daughter, Elaine. A son, Andrew, followed in July of '99. She was an amazing wife and mother.
Rachael loved spending time with her family and taking road trips with no itinerary. Their trips to the Huff family's homestead in Heppner, Oregon was one of her favorite destinations and she had a hard time leaving to return home. She had many talents. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed canning and baking for her family and friends. She passed on her love of cooking to her both her children. She had a wonderful sense of humor and was always a joy to be around.
After her father passed away unexpectedly in September of 2005, Rachael became an invaluable support to her aging grandparents, making sure they had what they needed. When it came time for her grandparents to move out of their house and into a retirement home, Rachael, Ron, and her cousin Micholine, took over all the details of the move and sale of the house. In February of 2019, with the death of her grandfather Andrew Huff, Rachael was a comfort to her grandmother Katherine.
In 2020, during the pandemic, Rachael and Ron celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.
Without warning, in January of '22, Rachael suffered a stroke. She recovered some but required surgery. On May 10th she underwent the first of two operations to repair the circulation to her brain. The surgery was successful and she was healing well. However, on May 15th she suffered a catastrophic stroke on the yet unrepaired sided of her brain. She passed away on May 20, 2022.