Rachel Moriah Vargas

Rachel Moriah Vargas, 22, of Bloomington, IN passed away at home on Tuesday March 12, 2019. Rachel was born in Fort Knox Kentucky on January 13, 1997. Growing up in a military family, Rachel called multiple places home. She lived here in Bloomington as a toddler, spent five years in Germany, then five years at West Point New York before the Vargas Family moved back to Bloomington in 2009. Rachel graduated from Bloomington North in 2015, and then headed off to Gannon University in Erie, PA to study criminal justice and play lacrosse for the Golden Knights. While Rachel was away at school, she was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma on February 12, 2016. After chemotherapy treatments, daily radiation, and a major 10 hour surgery, Rachel enter remission in January 2017. After being surrounded by the wonderful nurses at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, her career goals had changed and she went back to school to become a pediatric oncology nurse. Unfortunately, Rachel’s cancer returned and she was re-diagnosed on December 8, 2017. With more chemo in 2018 and other targeted cancer medicines the tumors continued to grow and spread. We have many people to thank with getting her the Right to Try an experimental medicine but that sadly was not her cure. Rachel was a beautiful young woman inside and out. She was always selfless, compassionate to others, and had a deep love for animals. She has participated in a mission trip to the Dominican Republic where she partook in building a school, she always talked about going back to continue to provide support. Rachel regularly volunteered in our local community. Her favorite charity and the one she was most involved in is the Bloomington Animal Shelter. Rachel served as a volunteer at the shelter since she was in middle school and started serving as a “foster mother” to animals when the shelter was overflowing, providing them with love and often nursing them back to health. She continued to do this after her diagnosis and only stopped when she became too sick to volunteer. She was an inspiration of strength and courage to us all. She was a good friend to all who knew her and will be missed by many. Survivors include her parents Ralph and Donna, siblings Briana, Luke and Matthew. Her pets Marie, Tink, Empire, Duke and Elsa. Maternal grandparents Carl and Marge Hardy, aunt, uncles, cousins, Godparents and God brothers. Rachel was predeceased by her paternal Oma and Opa, Ingrid and Albert Vargas. Her celebration of life will be held at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 2222 E. Third St., Bloomington, Indiana 47401 on Saturday, March 23, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to cancer research at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in Rachel’s honor. Day & Deremiah-Frye Funeral Home, 4150 E. Third St., Bloomington, Indiana 47401 is entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences may be given to the family at www.DayDeremiahFrye.com.