Rachel L. Brown
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On Saturday, May 30, 2020, Rachel Lynne (Colwell) Brown of Wilder, VT, passed peacefully in her home surrounded by her family at the age of 49. Rachel was born March 14, 1971 in Portsmouth, VA to her loving and devoted parents, Stephen Colwell and Debra (Slocum) Colwell. She grew up in Otego, NY, with most of her childhood spent living in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ. She attended college at Glassboro State College and Georgian Court University. Rachel received her Bachelor's degree in Education from Norwich University, and went on to teach 1st grade at Tunbridge Elementary School in Vermont. She was one of those teachers that students will never forget. Her passion for teaching and love for her students was inspiring. Her goal was always to make learning fun. Whether she was teaching them to ice skate, working alongside them in the garden, exploring with her students on hikes, dressing up as children's book characters, or creating songs and dances, she always put her whole heart into her profession.
On July 29, 2007, Rachel married her best friend, Rick Brown. The two not only shared a deep affection for one another, but also a love for the outdoors. The couple regularly went hiking and kayaking, and enjoyed sitting around a campfire in their backyard. Their most favorite place to be was on the beach at sunset.
Rachel cherished her family, and her greatest joy was being a mother. She gave birth to two children, Nicholas Bradley on April 29, 1996, and Alexandra Bradley on August 16, 2002. She taught them to have a sense of adventure, to always be themselves, and to never let fear hold them back from doing what they love. She was an unbelievable mother and role model.
Rachel had a big heart that showed in everything she did, from teaching, to raising her family, or being there for her friends. Those close to her describe Rachel as a wonderful daughter, an amazing mother and wife, incredible sister and best friend, someone who was kind hearted, generous, funny, resilient, thoughtful, and someone who will forever be, "indelibly inscribed on our hearts."
Rachel is survived by her parents Stephen and Debra Colwell of Oneonta, NY, husband Rick Brown of Wilder, VT, son Nicholas Bradley and daughter Alexandra Bradley of Wilder, VT, grandmother Antoinette Colwell of Oneonta, NY, two sisters Robin Colwell Powell and Rebecca Colwell Holland, brother Ryan Colwell and wife Ember, former sister-in-law Alastar Connor, stepson Ryan Brown, step daughter Krystal Brown and fiance Jon, grandsons Pierson, Ari, and Nico, nephews Odin, Zephyr, and Liam, a niece Persephone, and many cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends.
A celebration of life will be held this summer to commemorate this extraordinary woman. The family will provide more details at a later date.
To leave a message of condolence, please visit the online guestbook at www.rickerfuneralhome.com.