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Ireland, Rachel
Rachel I. Ireland, 82, of Iowa City, died peacefully Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012, at Solon Care Center in Solon. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service. Visitation will be one hour before the service on Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Long Creek Cemetery near Danville, Iowa at a later date.
Rachel was born Feb. 27, 1930, in Farmington, Iowa, the daughter of Horace and Ellen (McCune) Ireland. She was a graduate of Iowa State Teachers College (now The University of Northern Iowa). Rachel began her career as an elementary schoolteacher. Sometime later she realized her true passion was Christian education. She worked as director of Christian Education at First Methodist Church in Cedar Fallsand later at First United Methodist Church in Burlington. In later years she became a diaconal ninister and teacher/facilitator for the Academy for Spiritual Formation.
Rachel is survived by her sister, Betty Lundquist of Iowa City; niece, Ann Lundquist of Drake, Colo.; nephew, Gary (Barb) Lundquist of Iowa City; stepbrother, Ed (Hildegard) Place of Danville, Iowa; niece, Monica (Errol) Earlington of North Charleston, S.C.; sister-in-law, Mary Ireland of Wilmington, Del.; niece, Sharon (Leo) Matos of Wilmington, Del.; niece, Cathy Ireland of Baltimore, Md.; three great-nieces; two great-nephews; and one great-great-nephew.
Rachel was preceded in death by her father, Horace; mother, Ellen; stepmother, Mary; stepmother, Callie; brother, Robert; sister, Margaret; and brother-in-law, L. Harold Lundquist.
Rachel will be remembered as a warm, wonderful and inspiring person who was loved by her family and friends both here in the U.S. and the U.K.
Instead of flowers, Rachel has selected four organizations to direct gifts toward: United Methodist Committee on Relief, Heifer Project International, Bread for the World and The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ.
Online condolences may be sent for her family through the Web at www.gayandciha.com.
Published Nov. 3, 2012 in The Gazette
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