Rachelle M. (Fortier) Bishop

  Rachelle M. (Fortier) Bishop, 83 of Fairview, passed away on Sunday, February 18, 2018 at Manchester Commons.
   A resident of Fairview most of her life, she was born March 9, 1934 in Bangor, Maine, daughter of the late Ralph Fortier and Edna (Philbrook) Jackson.
 Rachelle (Rae) was a graduate of Bangor High School, Class of 1953.  Following high school, she worked at New England Bell in Bangor and transferred to Ohio Bell in Columbus, Ohio and became a supervisor and instructor for several years.
  Moving to Fairview in 1962, she was a founding member of Holy Cross Catholic Church, past Rosary President, started a pre-school at Holy Cross and was a Eucharistic Minister. She was also a member of The Woman’s Club of Erie, a charter member of the Fairview Historical Society, a past President of the Fair View Garden Club and an Associate of the Sister’s of St. Joseph.
  Rachelle served over 10 years as a coordinator for the Reach to Recovery volunteer service for the American Cancer Society for breast cancer patients.
  For many years, she wrote a column for the Cosmopolite Herald called Ra-di-ant Reflections.
  She was a past member of Hamot Aid and was a Eucharistic Minister at Hamot Hospital, as well as Holy Cross Catholic Church and St. Julia’s Catholic Church.
  She enjoyed many years of making ceramics, painting, gardening and playing Bridge.
  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Lester A. Bishop on June 25, 1996 and whom she married July 10, 1954 in Bangor, Maine, also by a son, David B. Bishop on December 15, 1999, a sister, Rita Thomas and a brother, Randy Fortier.
  Rachelle will be greatly missed by her family, which includes; her son, Douglas M. Bishop (Jodi) of McDonald, Pa; her daughter, Julie B. Nolan (Todd) of Lake City, PA, three sisters, Renee Fortier (Cem), of Los Angeles, CA, Rose Palacios, of Spring Branch, TX, and Rhonda Ramirez, of San Antonio, TX; two brothers, Ralph Fortier (Shirley) of Fernandina Beach, FL and Robert Fortier of Stedman, NC;  her grandchildren, Vanessa, Brianna and Alicia Nolan, the loves of her life.  Also survived by her sister-in-law Charlotte Bishop, many nieces and nephews and fourteen Godchildren.
  Friends may call on Thursday from 2 to 4 pm and 6 to 8 pm at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 7100 W. Ridge Rd., Fairview, and are invited to the Funeral Mass there on Friday at 10 am with Rev. Thomas Tyler officiating.
  Burial will be in the Brunstetter Cemetery, Austintown, OH.
  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Holy Cross Catholic Church in Fairview, Sister’s of St. Joseph, American Cancer Society, Woman’s Club of Erie or Alzheimer’s Association.
  Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Edder Funeral Home Inc., Girard.
  To send condolences visit edderfuneralhome.com

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