In Loving Memory of Rachel De Mello

Rachel De Mello, beloved daughter of Andrea and Mark De Mello, sister to Alanna and Jordan, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend to so many, passed away on September 29, 2025 leaving behind a huge hole in our hearts. Rachel’s intelligence, humour and warmth touched everyone fortunate enough to know her.

Rachel attended St. Joseph the Worker Elementary School where she formed her first set of close friends with whom she has stayed connected.  She graduated high school from McMath Secondary, and went on to UBC where she was in her fourth year of the Neuroscience program.

When she was four, Rachel began skating lessons at the Connaught Skating Club in Richmond.  She loved the sport, and skated competitively until she was fifteen, winning bronze along the way at the provincial championships in 2012.  Injuries forced her to stop skating competitively in 2016, but she continued to stay involved with the sport by volunteering as a Special Olympics coach, and beginning her Skate Canada coaching certification program.  Her fellow coaches admired her ability to see her skaters as more than just athletes; she focused on the whole person and encouraged them to grow in life and the sport. At the time of her death Rachel was coaching skaters who were provincial level competitors, and she was awaiting her Provincial Certified status.  The Connaught skating community was very special to Rachel, and her close friendships with a number of her clubmates have endured for almost 20 years.

Rachel also danced competitively at the Richmond Academy of Dance, where she did ballet, jazz, lyrical and her two favourites, tap and musical theatre.  Here too, she connected with some of her closest friends who have been part of her life for many years.  She loved to dance, regardless of genre, and her involvement with musical theatre led her to discover that she had a beautiful singing voice.  She enjoyed going to the theatre, and this summer fulfilled one of her dreams by attending a Broadway performance in New York.

For the last ten years Rachel has suffered from misophonia, severe anxiety and depression.  At times the burden on her and her family has been heavy.  Despite that weight, Rachel was able to find occasions to show her happy, hilarious and zany self to her friends and family.  We are so grateful for those memories of the real Rachel, and her family is sincerely thankful to her therapists who have all worked so thoughtfully and diligently to do the best they could to help her.

A funeral mass and celebration of Rachel’s life will be held to honor her memory and the remarkable person she was. All those who knew her are welcome to the service at 4:00pm on Friday October 10, 2025 at St. Joseph the Worker Church (4451 Williams Road, Richmond, BC).

Rachel’s life was a short but action-packed journey, and although she is no longer with us, her spirit will forever remain with her family and friends. She will be deeply missed, fondly remembered, and eternally cherished.

The family wishes to express their gratitude for the outpouring of support and condolences during this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the BC Division of the Canadian Mental Health Association (https://bc.cmha.ca/individual-donation-form/).