Gifted, Artistic, Beautiful, Selfless
It was clear almost immediately that Rachel Hanian was exceptionally gifted. In second grade, she quickly finished her worksheets and grew bored, so she began completing her classmates’ assignments for them. Fast forward to College, Rachel managed to attend school full-time while working and raising her son, Liam. She graduated with honors from Grandview University in just four years and was initiated into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honors Society. She passed her nursing exam on her first attempt at Broadlawns Hospital. All the hard work paid off, her future lay ahead.
Outside of school and work, Rachel loved to dress up. She did her own hair, nails, and make-up, finding joy in the simplicity of spending time with friends and shopping. Her mother, Peggy, fondly remembers Rachel’s close connection with her best friend Yvonne, stating, “they had a bond like no other.” Rachel was also quite close with her siblings–Jim, Tommy, Nick, Chris, and Maria–and adored her son, Liam.
The hundreds of people who attended Rachel’s wake testified to the profound impact she had on her greater community. Peggy recalls a lone older man who approached her, revealing he was one of Rachel’s patients. He wanted to tell her what a special person Rachel was, recalling when she would keep him company after her shift when he had no one else.
Rachel began seeking help for substance use disorder at the age of 16. She was dedicated to the AA program, regularly returning for support despite setbacks. She dreamed of advancing her career, raising her son Liam Mattes, and settling down. Six weeks before her death, Rachel moved back in with her mother, seeking assistance with the intensity of her substance use disorder while grappling with the fear of leaving her son behind while in a treatment program. The depth of her struggle remained hidden from her family.
In her wake, Peggy mourns all of the missed opportunities that substance use disorder stole from them–seeing Rachel get married, having more children, and achieving promotions. This profound loss has instilled in Peggy a deep sense of empathy, urging everyone to be kind and treat everyone with respect, as it is impossible to know the darkness others might be facing–just as Rachel did.
Rachel’s mother, Peggy Hanian, provided the information for this narrative
July 4, 1993-October 27, 2017-Age 24
Portrait Artist: Elizabeth Jones
Narrative Writer: Livia Cohen
