The Life of RACHEL ELIZABETH GILDEA
Rachel E. Gildea, 33, passed away early Wednesday, May 24, 2017, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, with her family by her side. Funeral services will take place at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 27, 2017, at Ankeny Funeral Home (1510 W. First St. Ankeny, Iowa 50023). Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services. Burial will take place at a later date at Highland Memory Gardens in Des Moines. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed towards the American Civil Liberties Union, Equal Rights Campaign or Planned Parenthood of Iowa.
Rachel Elizabeth Gildea was born March, 29, 1984, in Seward, Nebraska, the daughter of Leo and Elizabeth (Wilson) Gildea. She graduated from Ankeny High School in 2002 and went on to attend Des Moines Area Community College and most recently graduated with her BA from Iowa State University in 2015 with a major in English and minor in History. Rachel was working as a receptionist at Mercy Briarwood Clinics in Ankeny while preparing to apply to graduate school to pursue a Master''s degree in library science.
Rachel was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Iowa State and continued to pursue knowledge through reading and travel. She excelled in condensing broad social issues and the rhetoric surrounding them to concise statements of principle which she enjoyed sharing and discussing with others. Her love of music was displayed in many ways, from childhood participation in Des Moines Children''s Choruses to attending concerts, introducing friends to the beauty of opera, and singing karaoke with gusto.
Rachel is survived by her mother, Elizabeth Gildea of Ankeny; sisters: Sarah (Matthias) Knobloch of Arlington, VA, Kathy Wilson of Greenwood, MO, Andrea (Jerry) Branchcomb of Ankeny, Mary Cole of Midlothian, IL and Janey (Wally) Sommers of Omaha, NE; two brothers: Peter Gildea of Ankeny and David (Karen) Gildea of Omaha, NE; nieces and nephews: Felix, Matilda, Sabrina, Chandler, Kyle, Gary, Stephanie, Trent, Josiah, Breann, Joshua (Bekki), Kara (Joey), Jennifer and Lisa and two great nephews: Levi and Miles; she is further survived by her uncles: Gary Wilson and John Gildea and an aunt, Cora Mather, along with many extended family members. Rachel was preceded in death by her father, Leo J. (Jim) Gildea, a brother, John W. (Bill), grandparents, Kenneth and Lorene Wilson and Leo V. and Ruby Gildea, and several aunts and uncles.
Rachel Elizabeth Gildea was born March, 29, 1984, in Seward, Nebraska, the daughter of Leo and Elizabeth (Wilson) Gildea. She graduated from Ankeny High School in 2002 and went on to attend Des Moines Area Community College and most recently graduated with her BA from Iowa State University in 2015 with a major in English and minor in History. Rachel was working as a receptionist at Mercy Briarwood Clinics in Ankeny while preparing to apply to graduate school to pursue a Master''s degree in library science.
Rachel was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Iowa State and continued to pursue knowledge through reading and travel. She excelled in condensing broad social issues and the rhetoric surrounding them to concise statements of principle which she enjoyed sharing and discussing with others. Her love of music was displayed in many ways, from childhood participation in Des Moines Children''s Choruses to attending concerts, introducing friends to the beauty of opera, and singing karaoke with gusto.
Rachel is survived by her mother, Elizabeth Gildea of Ankeny; sisters: Sarah (Matthias) Knobloch of Arlington, VA, Kathy Wilson of Greenwood, MO, Andrea (Jerry) Branchcomb of Ankeny, Mary Cole of Midlothian, IL and Janey (Wally) Sommers of Omaha, NE; two brothers: Peter Gildea of Ankeny and David (Karen) Gildea of Omaha, NE; nieces and nephews: Felix, Matilda, Sabrina, Chandler, Kyle, Gary, Stephanie, Trent, Josiah, Breann, Joshua (Bekki), Kara (Joey), Jennifer and Lisa and two great nephews: Levi and Miles; she is further survived by her uncles: Gary Wilson and John Gildea and an aunt, Cora Mather, along with many extended family members. Rachel was preceded in death by her father, Leo J. (Jim) Gildea, a brother, John W. (Bill), grandparents, Kenneth and Lorene Wilson and Leo V. and Ruby Gildea, and several aunts and uncles.