long-time doper chique has passed away

[Elenfair]

Most of you young whippersnappers might not remember her, but the old-timers will.

She hasn't been around in a while, but she's been around some of the spin-off boards. She was a pain in the ass, but she was one fantastic human being.

Tonight, Rachel ("chique") lost her battle with cancer.

Those of us who were lucky to have her in our lives miss her a ton already.

[Ruby]

:( RIP chique :(

[Dangerosa]

I am very sorry to hear this. She has been in my thoughts for a long time.

[NinetyWt]

Rats. :( My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends. Go gently Rachel.

[Wile E]

I am sorry to hear this also.
May she rest in peace. Condolences to her loved ones.

[Ferret Herder]

Previous thread (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=562312) about her move to hospice. She posted here about when the cancer was first diagnosed, and the return as well.

Rest in peace.

[KarlGrenze]

I'm very sad to hear this. I was thinking about her this weekend, wondering about her.

[dogbutler]

I'm sorry to hear it. :(

[Ogre]

Goddamn it. I'm very sorry. She and I got into a screaming match or two, but I hate to lose her.

[elelle]

Peace and good onyond, chique

[Cat Whisperer]

Rest in peace, chique. I am sorry to hear that; I didn't know her particularly well, but I've known the name for a long time.

[Marley23]

I guess we knew this was coming with all the recent news, but it's a shame anyway. I hope her friends and family are holding up okay.

[Taters]

I'm so sorry. Peace and strength to her family and friends.

[ajb867]

Reading this line from 2009 post after seeing this thread first actually gave me cold chills

"Turns out the bastard had evil, evil babbies, some of which lodged in my skull and swelled, hence the whole puke/pass out incident. Eventually they're going to kill me but not right this second and not before the medical types get a little of their own back."


RIP chique

[Lucky 13]

RIP chique. :(

Fuck you, Ahnold, and your babbies.:mad:

[Cicero]

It was going to happen, but it is still unspeakably sad.

[ShibbOleth]

Damn! I don't often post in these threads, because they make me too sad. Chique was a beautiful, wonderful woman who I had the pleasure to meet in real life. If there's a heaven, she's buying everyone a round right now. We'll miss you, Chique.

[MoodIndigo1]

I'm so sorry. I remember her threads about her illness. She was one gutsy fighter and her passing is just too sad. RIP, chique. Condolences to her family and loved ones.

[Johnny L.A.]

Requiescat in pace, chique.

[koeeoaddi]

So, so sad.

R.I.P. chique

:(

[Celyn]

That's sad. :( And she seemed such a brave fighter. Sympathy to her family.

[SciFiSam]

Thanks for notifying us all. I'm really cut up about her going even though she'd been ill for so long - I somehow thought she'd carry on anyway.

[Gleena]

Have been reading her blog, and I e-mailed her early on about her apartment cleaning and had a little conversation going on for a while, until she got too sick.

I am so sad. She went with such grace and humor, even about the icky stuff. I hope I can be as brave when it's my time.

With an inappropriate hat.

Goodbye, chique....

[Nava]

Thanks for letting us know.

Rest in peace, chique

[Rasa]

She definitely was a pain in the ass, and an awesome human being. Things just won't be the same without her. And her inappropriate hats. ;)

Goodbye, friend.

[ScareyFaerie]

So very sad. Condolences to her family and loved ones.

[dreadpr aka dpr]

I spent a few hours going through old emails and irc logs today and it's left me both happy and devastated. Rache was a wonderful friend and I'm both sad and angry (at myself) that we drifted apart.

It's always easy to say nice things about people after the fact but to be honest in her case I'd find it hard to say something bad. She was supportive, witty, very loyal, funny and always entertaining. We occasionally disagreed but never argued. And laughed with and at each other a lot.

I'll miss you sheek but I'm a better person for having known you.

[Gyrate]

chique was an occasional but welcome contributor to the NADS board, and I'm very sorry to see her go. She had a remarkably wry wit for a Liverpool fan, and once offered to teach my newborn daughter all about "cigars and blackjack and good beer".

In a discussion about Jade Goody (British "celebrity" who died of cancer) another poster commented that if she [the poster] had terminal cancer she "would be away screaming my head off and drinking myself stupid", to which chique repliedMaybe, for a bit. But then you'd realize you're not actually, like, y'know, DEAD yet and get a grip. Things to do, people to see, rent to pay. You know - real life.And as far as I can tell from the far remove of the Internet, that's what she did.

Bye, chique. Good to have met you, if only for a little while.

[jjimm]

I interacted with Rachel on and off over several years, and she was always witty, and always a star, especially in the way she shared the negative experiences of her last years, things that would leave those less strong a wreck. In an email she once said:Over the past 9 (nearly 10 now) years as I’ve posted on SDMB I’ve met and virtually met some truly great friends. This is a real community of people that share, laugh, argue, debate, and - yes - occasionally snark and bitch, but when the place comes together as it often does - and this time for me - I wouldn't have it any other way.Nor would I.

Goodbye chique.

[Khadaji]

May whatever gods there be, be with her family and friends during this difficult time.

[yojimbo]

She faught the good fight to the end. Like many here I talked to her off board a good few times. She was a beautiful person. A true mench.


So young. :(

[norinew]

All day yesterday I had a feeling about this. In fact, when I finally got home last night (had my own sister 'in town' for her cancer treatments), I specifically looked for something like this. Didn't find it. Said a prayer for chique and her family anyway.

:(

[Springtime for Spacers]

She sent me a couple of cat dancer toys and I sent her British crisps. I'll make the cat do a dance in her honour today.

[twickster]

Very sad news.

[Dolores Reborn]

Condolences to the family. 'Tis a sad day.

[Smeghead]

I got to know her fairly well in the old chatroom where we both hung out a lot. She showed me around Minneapolis when I went there for a job interview, and was irritated with me when I didn't take the job. Still the only Doper I've met in real life.

[Angua]

So sorry to hear that. Condolences to her family. :(

[Annie-Xmas]

Very sorry. :( I remember her well.

[Elenfair]

I will pass on everyone's condolences to the family.

Rach was at our wedding reception... dogsat our pups on a semi-regular basis... we saw her every couple of months and talked regularly, up until the very end. We saw her a couple of weeks ago, just before things started to take a turn for the much, much worse. She was a total pain in my ass, and I was a pain in hers, but she was the kind of person who would move heaven and earth to help a friend. Or a stranger.

The Minnesota State Fair won't be the same without her this summer. I plan to go with her old shipmate Mike (she was in the navy, back in the day) and we are aiming to get totally silly in her honor. She'd like that.

Damn, I'm really going to miss her.

[Ann Onimous]

Very sad, and sorry to hear: please pass my sympathies and condolences to her family.

[Cajun Man]

My heartfelt condolences.

[chela]

Condolences to the family, friends and internet buddies of chique.

[Charley]

Oh no, I hoped for some reason this wouldn't happen. Go in peace, chique. Condolences to her family and friends.

[Odieman]

RIP Rachael...maybe there was a reason I came back yesterday.....

Keith

[Cub Mistress]

I'm so sorry to hear this. Goodbye, Rachel.

[faithfool]

Rest in peace, Rachel. :(

[psycat90]

How terribly sad.

Her family and friends are in my thoughts.

RIP chique.

[swampbear]

Chique and her family are in my thoughts and prayers.

[Tamerlane]

My condolences to her family and all her friends, here and elsewhere.

[MikeG]

I also met Rachel in real life. She was a wonderful person and will be sorely missed.

[mnemosyne]

:( Condolences to her family and friends, both IRL and online.

[CateAyo]

I did not know her. Clearly this was my misfortune. I am sorry for the loss that you all feel, her friends, and her family. She has found peace.

[Rasa]

Oh wow, Odieman. Good to see you, even though the circumstance is sad. And dpr too. Man did we kill some hours in #straightdope together, eh?

[Smeghead]

Yeah, a lot of old-timers here.

[imthjckaz]

Rachel lived with us for a couple of months after her Grampa died and she had to move off the farm. When she found a place of her own, I kind of lost touch with her IRL, but I always was in contact online.
Sad thing is that I had been planning on visiting her at the hospice house.
Procrastination sucks.

I will miss her, give 'em hell Rachel.

[gardentraveler]

Condolences to Rachel's family and friends. :(

[Kolga]

My sincerest condolences to all chique's family and friends.

[Tripler]

Damn. Chique, yer still one of my favorite-met Dopers. You are, and will be missed. . . My condolences to the chique family.

Tripler
Very sad news indeed.

[Hanna]

:(

[Siam Sam]

Condolences.

Does it seem like an inordinate number of Dopers are checking out these days?

[Clothahump]

Reading this line from 2009 post after seeing this thread first actually gave me cold chills

"Turns out the bastard had evil, evil babbies, some of which lodged in my skull and swelled, hence the whole puke/pass out incident. Eventually they're going to kill me but not right this second and not before the medical types get a little of their own back."

I remember reading that and thinking, "Geez, that lady has got guts".

She will be missed.

[gwendee]

I thought of her a couple of days ago as I was sifting through subscribed threads.

Godspeed, Chique.

[Rasa]

Her family was and has been incredibly thoughtful in keeping us, her far-flung internet friends in the loop, even in the midst of their own grief and arrangement-making. I sent her sister a message on Facebook, just a quick "I'm sorry for your loss, Rachel was a dear friend to me," and I got back a long, thoughtful and caring reply. She said she'd love to hear any memories I have of Rachel, funny things she said/did. I don't want to give out her email or whatnot (though I'm sure she wouldn't mind), but if you want to share something about Rachel with her family, search Facebook for "Hats with Rachel" (or go to the old linked threads from the first page of this message) and her sister is Rebecca. I'm sure she'd love to hear them.

[ivan astikov]

:( I knew this thread was coming, but it doesn't make it any easier to accept. Sheek, or Chic, as I always heard her name in my head, or Rachel as she was known to her friends, was a poster who I will always have a great deal of respect for.

We'd never interacted in any threads, but last year during a thread where I was getting piled on, she sent me a supportive PM and praised me for not letting personal attacks get me down. We swapped a couple more PM's, and I feel if I'd been a bit more sociable, we could have become good friends, despite her supporting "the scouse blight".

It's my loss, I'm sure of that much.

:(

[The Mad Hermit]

My condolences to all who will miss her.

[norinew]

:( I knew this thread was coming, but it doesn't make it any easier to accept. Sheek, or Chic, as I always heard her name in my head, or Rachel as she was known to her friends, was a poster who I will always have a great deal of respect for.

We'd never interacted in any threads, but last year during a thread where I was getting piled on, she sent me a supportive PM and praised me for not letting personal attacks get me down. We swapped a couple more PM's, and I feel if I'd been a bit more sociable, we could have become good friends, despite her supporting "the scouse blight".

It's my loss, I'm sure of that much.

:(
People who are not, and have never been, part of an online community, often fail to understand just how close we can become to people we've never met face to face. I will tell other friends (as I first did when Persephone died), 'well, it's someone I know from the Dope', and they are often incredulous that you can develop such attachments to 'strangers'.

I've developed quite a few attachments to the 'strangers' here, and have gotten a lot of support, at very necessary times, from the same 'strangers'.

Now, I'd be the first to agree: you'd be hard-pressed to find intelligent people 'stranger' than those on the Dope! :D

But it really is a community. No less real than maybe a pub you visit every Friday night where the same folks are there week after week.

We support one another emotionally (and occasionally financially as well), and when one of us goes, yes, it's more painful if we've had personal or face-to-face interaction with them. But even if we haven't, it hurts. It hurts us as individuals, and as a 'neighborhood', which is how I think of us.

[KarlGrenze]

Rasa, my favorite current memories of chique occurred during her illness. In one of her LJ posts, she commented on one of her hats, which she didn't like.

My comment:

I think you should wear the Care Bears one to your next appointment. I don't know, just the silliness of it... some twisted humor.

Please don't throw bricks at me. :)

Her reply:

Bricks are reserved for the giver, not the smartass in the peanut gallery. ;-)

I wonder if she did ever get to wear that hat...

[Nocturne]

I used to love talking to chique back in the old IRC channel. I'm seeing a lot of other faces I recognize from back then too...

Godspeed, chique.

[rocking chair]

may her memory be eternal.

[jayjay]

God, this thread is one I never wanted to see. I didn't know her personally, or even terribly well online. We interacted quite a bit in the brief time I used to chat at #straightdope. I'll miss her.

She came from a long line of gutsy, tough people. I still remember her posting about her grandfather pulling the inflated Foley out of his own...er, junk. She had guts in her genes.

Rest well, Rachel.

[Tamex]

Very sad to hear this :(. Evil babbies indeed.

[An Gadaí]

Rest In Peace, Chique.

[Poysyn]

So sad. I remember her name.

[Marley23]

I've un-stuck this thread and I'm adding an entry for chique to the memorial thread. I was reading some of her older posts just now, and I think you'll enjoy this one. (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=9611306&postcount=12)

[Eliahna]

This news is no less sad for being anticipated. A sorry loss for us all, and my heart goes out to her loved ones.

[Marley23]

A few other interesting chique moments: Jesus, grampa, stop doing that! (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=202041) (another story involving a cow) and I had a great night last night, OR, Black powder is FUN!!! (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=89040)

[Capt Cheese Whiz]

Well shit. I'm a loong time lurker on these boards. Chique is surely frowning at my first (second) post, but here goes:

I've had many a late night chats with chique, I mean HOURS about shit that's been happening on the planet. I've been privvy to some of the personal conversations that have taken place on these boards because chique and I'd be messenging, and she'd link a thread, and she and I'd discuss, then she'd say whatever the hell she wanted to say in the first place. And I'd applaud. Or do a facepalm on occasion.

And her guts? That shit was for real. Chique had guts. One thing about chique is that she was equal parts of ballsy, educated and passionate. Oh, then throw in some dark humor and a shit load of sarcasm. And giving. Chique gave and gave and probably not once gave herself proper credit for it. I haven't had the desire to snoop through her posts. Perhaps someday. But I'm fairly certain that she talked a lot about football and immigrants and politics and she was likely straighforward to the point of annoyance and so full of reason at times that you wanted to scream. And yet, you knew whatever she said, that she wasn't bullshitting you. She probably didn't brag about her Navy days during Gulf I, or her post-Katrina service or teaching reugee Somali women to drive, or her writing for a local paper on immigrant issues or the fact that she donated her body to be a cadaver to the Univeristy of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest program so that future docs and surgeons can practice their craft on her.

And that story about our Grandpa pulling the Foley out? Holy shit right? I still don't know how to talk about Grandpa's penis other than two or three "holy shit's" in a row. Then brain bleach. And more brain bleach. And another one or two "holy shit's". Those of us that grew up on a farm sometimes tell people stories prefaced with "Well I grew up on A Farm" like a badge of honor. I've got lots of those stories about my life that start that way. Grandpa pulling that shit out ain't one of them. We've got lotsa better Gpa stories than that. Like all the damn dogs that he shot cos they wouldn't herd cattle at first whistle. That pissed us off. And that's a waaaaay better Farm story than that stinking cath.

I want you guys to know, that your comraderie and intellect and occasional flat out arguing were as important to my sister, chique, as they are to you. Our Mom wrote her obituary today and it includes this line: "..and the internet, where she met many interesting people from all over the world. Although only meeting a few posters in person, she counted a good number as dear friends. The Celebration of Life service will also be webcast with those friends and family in mind." We're working out those details regarding the webcast and those of you that want to watch a not-a-funeral online that's not a celebrity for the first time? Here's your chance. I'll come back and post a link once we get those details worked out. In the meantime, if you have something you'd like to share, to be read at her memorial, please PM me: rebsandy@hotmail.com.

[GuanoLad]

Well, crapola. Just saw this thread. :(

[Maeglin]

The last time I saw her, Elly, was your wedding reception. She took is gift shopping for you, since we didn't have a car. She was the only one there I knew.

Fuck.

[BoBettie]

sad news indeed. RIP Chique. I hope you got to wear the silly fish hat I made for you before it was time.

[Chez Guevara]

'Bye Rachel.

I'll miss you. :)

[Nymysys]

I had the idea I'd check up over here and see what's going on. Now I know. Sigh. She was.....She was an original.

Bartender, a round for the house.

[Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor]

Bye, Chique.

[TubaDiva]

I have information about the memorial service for chique, which is this weekend.

Please contact me off the board for details.

Quoting from the obituary: "Memorials are preferred to Amnesty International, Kiva.org, Doctors Without Borders, or the charity of your choice."

[MamaHen]

I just heard this news and my heart is breaking. She was an amazing lady and I'm glad I got to know her through chat.

[Autolycus]

May she post in peace :(

[Rasa]

Info on the webcast:

Chat: RachelCelebrationOfLife
Date: Saturday, July 10, 2010

Start Time:
1:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time
3:00 PM Central Daylight Time
4:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time
8:00 PM GMT

URL: http://www.tokbox.com/Elly35/RachelCelebrationOfLife

[Demo]

This is so sad. Rest in peace, chique.

[Rasa]

Just giving this a nudge back to the top, as the memorial service is today.

[NurseCarmen]

Well shit. I hate to bring up an old thread, but you'd think I would have read a stickie after two and a half years. Chique was great. A regular at the Minnesota Pork Dopes, she always made me smile. I'm bummed that I never made it up to the get togethers at her farm up north. You were awesome Chique.

[Zebra]

Does this mean Chique is a zombie?

[WhyNot]

Does this mean Chique is a zombie?

I think she'd have liked that.



(But I also think I'll report this so a mod can decide if it should be locked to avoid hurting people anew.)

[twickster]

People who knew, knew; people who didn't, do now; people who didn't know chique don't care. I see no problem here.

twickster, MPSIMS moderator

[Alice The Goon]

I hope that when I die, my memorial thread gets bumped for years afterward. Make it so, people!

[Rasa]

I think she'd have liked that.

(But I also think I'll report this so a mod can decide if it should be locked to avoid hurting people anew.)

Haha, anyone that knew chique knows she'd love it. :) If anyone could haunt their friends from the great beyond it'd be her.

[dropzone]

I hope that when I die, my memorial thread gets bumped for years afterward. Make it so, people!Happy to help! Just move a bit to the left and stand still so I can get a clean shot....


Sorry if some people see this as disrespectful to the memory of my friend chique, but I come from a tradition where the joking starts at the wake. The drinking, too, but I already did that back in 2010.

[buddha_david]

...people who didn't know chique don't care. I see no problem here.
Don't be so certain. I never heard of chique until now, and this thread kinda ruined my day. :(

[jayjay]

Happy to help! Just move a bit to the left and stand still so I can get a clean shot....


Sorry if some people see this as disrespectful to the memory of my friend chique, but I come from a tradition where the joking starts at the wake. The drinking, too, but I already did that back in 2010.

Not to mention that if she were capable of posting from whatever afterlife she's in (or not), she'd probably be the one posting the most tasteless and inappropriate jokes...

[lavenderviolet]

I never knew her personally, but I kept checking to see how she was doing when she was diagnosed with the cancer. I'm glad to see that people are still thinking about talking her years later. She handled a very unfair and horrible situation with a lot of strength, and she deserves to be remembered.

[Brynda]

Sort of spooky to see that autolycus and norinew both post in this thread.

[jayjay]

Sort of spooky to see that autolycus and norinew both post in this thread.

Adds all kinds of shades of meaning to the term "zombie thread", doesn't it?

[Earl Snake-Hips Tucker]

Sort of spooky to see that autolycus and norinew both post in this thread.And some while back someone bumped an old thread and some of the first responses were from Q.E.D. and David Simmons.

[twickster]

...people who didn't know chique don't care. I see no problem here.



Don't be so certain. I never heard of chique until now, and this thread kinda ruined my day. :(

Well, then, you should probably think twice about opening a thread with "long-time doper...has passed away" in the thread title.