Tributes Pour In For Nurse Rachael Andrade

Tributes have poured in after Department of Health nurse and Breast Cancer Awareness Advocate Rachael Andrade lost her battle with cancer on Saturday – the day of her 51st birthday.

Mrs Andrade was born in Paisley, Scotland and did her general midwifery studies at Perth College of Nursing and Midwifery in Scotland, and earned a bachelor of nursing from the University of New Brunswick in Canada. She arrived on the island in 1991 to work at King Edward Memorial, where she worked for a decade.

Mrs. Andrade became the education officer at The Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre in 2001 where she worked for several years before becoming a school nurse with the Health Department.

At the Department of Health she worked in the Victoria Street Clinic part of the week and also part-time at various schools, primarily at the Berkeley Institute where she was school nurse.

As a nurse at the Department of Health she was very involved in health promotion and the Well Bermuda team and shared their belief that the promotion of health is fundamental to Bermuda’s prosperity. Mrs Andrade was also very involved with the travel clinic and the Flu Express as well as the Child Health Clinic.

“She also was very involved at Christmas time,” explained Department of Health Chief Nursing Officer Gaynell Hayward. “She was the one decorating our tree and bringing the holiday cheer. Her loss will be felt greatly this holiday season.”

Mrs Andrade was also relied upon for much of the Department’s creative work which related to health promotion and included the creation of flyers and slogans. She was the creator of the theme song for Bermy Germy [the mascot for the Department of Health].

With Bermuda Cancer and Health, she was instrumental in starting awareness campaigns such as Girls’ Night In, an event that brought women together to have fun and raise money for breast cancer. She also came up with the charity’s Slip Slap Slop campaign promoting the use of sunscreen to cut down on the risk of skin cancer.

She was second vice president of the Bermuda Nurses’ Association at the time of her death and was a strong promoter of nursing as a rewarding career opportunity.

On Friday the St George’s, Somerset and Warwick Child Health Clinics [usually held from 2pm to 4pm] will be closed to allow staff to attend the funeral. The Hamilton Health Centre on Victoria Street will remain open during that time with limited services including immunisations and infant weighing. Her funeral will be held tomorrow at St John’s Church in Pembroke at 2.30pm. Colours may be worn.

Celia Musson-Nzabalinda, Senior Dental Officer:

We in the Oral Health Section of the Department of Health would like to express our sadness at Rachael’s passing and our admiration for her during our association with her first through TB & Cancer and later as a school nurse. She was the essence of the “can do” spirit. We can all learn so much from her example of positivity in tough times. She will be missed.

Alex. Wilberz, Facilitator Group 3 Well Bermuda Strategy:

Rachael had been truly an inspiration and touched so many lives with her wonderful uplifting personality. In the time she was our chair for Group 3 of the Well Bermuda Strategy she kept us on our toes with her usual no-nonsense approach. She truly had the gift of bringing people together and we shared many smiles and laughs along the way. Rachael will be truly missed but surely not forgotten- and I am thankful to have met her. This is a very sad and testing time and my thoughts and prayers go out to her family, friends and co-workers.

Lynn Jackson – Child Health Coordinator:

Rachael was an excellent example of public health at its best. She has indeed positively impacted many in her work both within the department, schools, in a voluntary capacity and her personal life. She exemplified nursing and made us proud. She was an asset to Child Health and I valued her contribution and participation at all levels. She will be missed greatly.

Loumeeka Orgill, President, Bermuda Nurses Association:

It is with great sadness that I extend heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Rachael Andrade our 2nd VP for the Bermuda Nurses Association. Rachael was an irreplaceable member of the association. Her commitment to the professional association was evident as she tirelessly gave her best to support the association. Even when illness befell her, Rachael still reached out to keep the association moving forward. She had an infectious jovial spirit that would captivate all who were graced by her presence. She truly captured the essence of a kindled passion within nursing. She was the living breathing epitomized example of an exceptional nurse. As some have reflected on her contributions to nursing I reiterate the previous statement that she was a nursing ambassador. She has left an indelible impression on all our hearts. Let’s keep her memory alive by infusing her infectious spirit into our daily practice. It’s without a doubt that we would then make a difference everyday and draw many more jovial spirits into this remarkable profession. May God give strength to all who are grieving her loss.

Verlina Bishop, Administrator, Department of Health:

As we are all mourning the loss of a wonderful colleague and friend, I can truly say that she emanated what true Public Health is all about. As a fellow Health Educator, I admired her ability to reach all age groups not only through her engaging personality and knowledge of the topic she was presenting but creativity to make a lasting impression on those lives she touched. My thoughts and prayers are with her family, Department of Health family, Berkeley staff and students, and colleagues through this especially difficult time.

Dr Cheryl Peek-Ball, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health:

Our hearts are surely broken by this news, especially those who worked closely beside Rachael. Yet, we know that her influence on us and the greater community will not be weakened by her physical absence. Memories of her bubbly and positive attitude, her humor and passion for life, will keep us uplifted as we continue the work she dedicated her life to. We can hold each other up and feel that we honor her memory every time we laugh or tend to those in need. My sincerest condolences go to her family and to the staff members who were her dearest friends. I can envision her soul soaring to the heavenly heights.

Natosha Rayner, Speech Language Pathologist, Department of Health:

I am so sad to hear this news. I met Rachael while working with Youth Sport and Recreation many years ago when she educated students and staff on the importance of wearing sun protection. Oh I can still hear her saying “Slip, Slap and Slop”. I also had the pleasure of working with her earlier this year at the college, where she asked me to speak with her students. Her smile shines and accent alone rings in my head as you speak her name. She was a wise and pleasant lady to know.

Caroline Roque, DOH:

Rachel was truly an amazing person which such wonderful energy and enthusiasm. She always lifted everyone’s spirit and brought humor into any situation. I really enjoyed working alongside Rachel both in health department activities and the union. Such sad news this morning- Rachel will be missed dearly by all. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

Debra L. Chase, Nursing Coordinator, Sylvia Richardson Care Facility:

I was deeply saddened this morning upon seeing that Rachel had passed away. Her passion for health care dominated the radio waves mornings when all of us were on our way to work. We have truly lost an ambassador. We will all miss her deeply. My condolences go out to her family at this difficult time.

Chris Harker:

I was saddened to hear that Rachael had passed away. I did not know Rachel well, I only met her on one or two occasions in the Department. The very first time I met her she welcomed me to the team with a big hug, I am sure she knew that as a contract worker I would be missing home. That hug went a long way. “One hundred years from now, It will not matter what kind of car I drove, What kind of house I lived in, Or how much money I had in the bank, But the world may be a better place because I made a difference in a child’s life.” (Author unknown). Rachael will have made a difference to so many lives. God Bless Rachael and her family and all of her colleagues students and friends who will be feeling a great loss.

Gaynell Hayward, Chief Nursing Officer:

Rachael became a part of the Department of Health family over four years ago and was very popular and well known throughout the community. Her deep Scottish accent and chuckle, were very distinctly recognized as she shared health promotion topics while on the radio with Keevil “The Captain” Burgess . Rachael had a passion for life and embraced people of all walks of life. She will surely be missed by all especially the students at Berkeley where she was assigned as their school nurse. “Nurse Rachael” as she was affectionately called by the students or “Rachie” by her colleagues will be greatly missed. Please keep her husband David and family as well as the Community Health nurse team in prayer. May Rachael our beloved friend rest in peace.

Kathie Knox, DOH:

I can only echo the passionate words of all who have written so eloquently about Rachael. Her effervescent personality and glorious chuckle will most surely and sorely be missed. She was an individual who hopefully many will try to emulate. When I visited with her over the summer, she was so incredibly keen to be going back to work, having just received approval to do so. What a consummate trooper she was! As you all know, she had such a way about her. I am still in disbelief that she managed to convince me to help sing the Bermy Germy song about Hand Washing. Me, a gal who feels that I can’t even sing Happy Birthday in tune and shies away (and cringes!) with public singing. Ahhh, but Rachael, as only Rachael could, found a way to get me to do it, and I must say, probably fairly in tune! She was a wonderful, glorious person.

Brenda Joy, DOH:

I wish to give my sincere condolences to our Department of Health Family on the passing of a sweet, witty, and pleasant young lady – Nurse Rachael. She just had to be one of God’s special angels! She had the personality to reach anyone. My contact with Rachael will always be remembered as she would have that “teasing’ and twinkle in the eye – going on at me . She indeed meant special things to different people – but no one can deny that she personified what God requires of us all – that we love one another. I will surely miss her. In closing please relay my good wishes to her family, and that they must remember that God knows when you have had enough, and may happy memories keep Rachael ever close in their hearts and thoughts. For each tear that falls for Rachael – count it as a jewel in her Crown.

B. Lynn Wade:

I first met Rachael through the Bermuda Public Services Union (BPSU) in 2001. She was appointed the second Education Officer for the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre and was invited by the BPSU Women’s Committee to come to the Union and do a couple of lunch ‘n learn educational talks. Upon leaving that job she joined the Health Department. A lovely person, full of energy, she enjoyed talking to anyone, gave good advice and always made us laugh. She was just fun to be around. I know you will all miss her and I extend my deepest sympathy to you and your staff.

#Health

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