Enjoyed family holiday dinners, bowling, bridge and a good book
Published April 3, 2020
MELROSE — Rachel H. (Halloway) Dunn, 91, resident of Melrose, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 23, 2020 at Bear Hill Nursing Home in Wakefield.
Born in Churdan, Iowa on October 9, 1928, Rachel is one of five children of the late Roger G .and Florence M. (nee Greiner) Halloway. The family moved to Jefferson, Iowa while she was in high school. Growing up during the Great Depression, times were hard for the Halloway family. They would have to use the outhouse, which was especially challenging during the brutal winter months in the Midwest. They would only get one pair of shoes per year, and they had to last. If a hole developed in the sole of the shoe, they would use cardboard to plug the hole. Though the family faced many challenges, they always had food on the table, which was one of the most important things.
Rachel went to work as a secretary for a law firm, and eventually took a job with General Electric, moving to Louisville, where she met Richard. Dick was persistent, and Rachel finally agreed to go out on a date. They were later married, and Rachel devoted her life to raising her five children and volunteering.
After living in Louisville and Cincinnati, the family settled in Melrose where they would become active members of the community. They were very active in the First United Methodist Church in Melrose and spent numerous years volunteering for the Bread of Life. Rachel was also a longtime volunteer at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital and FISH, where she would coordinate rides for the elderly. She was active in volunteering through her 80’s
Family was first and foremost for Rachel. She had a welcoming nature about her and enjoyed cooking and having family and friends over. She was exceptionally active in the lives of her children and grandchildren. She was their biggest fan, and extremely proud of them and all their accomplishments.
Some of her favorite activities include visiting relatives in Iowa, hosting Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter dinners, bowling, playing bridge, crossword puzzles, and reading a good book. She and Dick had many favorite travel adventures including going to Cameroon, Peru, Alaska, Hawaii, and England to name a few.
Rachel’s kindness, love, generosity, and sense of humor will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to have her in their life.
Rachel was the beloved wife of the late Richard W. Dunn with whom she shared 57 years of marriage. Devoted mother of Robyn D. Sateriale and her husband Robert of Melrose, Richard H. Dunn and his wife Stephanie of Hopkinton, Roger W. Dunn and his wife Anne of Hampton, N.H., Randee D. Epie and her husband Felix of Wilmington, and Rebekah A. McCarthy and her husband Robert of Deerfield, N.H. Cherished grandmother of Jennifer Serei and her husband Narath, Andrew Sateriale, Kelley Dunn, Daniel Epie, Cassidy McCarthy and Matthew McCarthy.
In accordance with current public health regulations, a celebration of life will be held at a later date.
To send a message of condolence to the family, please visit RobinsonFuneralHome.com
