Obituary of Brooke Marie Rachau

BROOKE MARIE RACHAU, 42, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, died Saturday, February 24, 2024, at home after a long illness. She previously had resided in Pleasant Gap, Pennsylvania; Bellefonte Pennsylvania; Barefoot Bay, Florida, and Unionville, Pennsylvania.

Born March 15, 1981, in State College, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of Dean A. Rachau, Jr of Panama City, Florida, and Rosalie Ann Adams of Middletown, Pennsylvania.

She is survived by her siblings, Brandon Miles. Rachau (Krystal), of Panama City, Florida; Brittany Danielle Rachau, of York, Pennsylvania; and Bethany Aurelia Rachau Darby (Robert), of Greenville, South Carolina.

She is also survived by nephews and nieces: Jace C. Rachau of Middletown, Pennsylvania; Alyssa Ann Rachau, Rayna Jordyn Rachau, and Miles Cooper Rachau all of Panama City, Florida; Quade Michael Rachau-Ketterman, JudyAnn Rosalie Ketterman, and Dallas Blain Ketterman all of York, Pennsylvania.

She is also survived by Aunts and Uncles: Kathy Adams Lopez of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Terri Adams Flanagan (Jack) of Ypsilanti, Michigan; Loretta Adams Siegenthaler of Howard, Pennsylvania; Lloyd E. Adams III (Cindy) of Birmingham, Alabama; Rosemary Adams Norris (Chris) of Spring Grove, Pennsylvania; Gloria Rachau Spackman (Ken) of Wilmington, North Carolina; and Cindy Rachau Wooster (Robert), of Karthaus, Pennsylvania.

Brooke was a graduate of Palm Bay Area High School and attended Bellefonte Area High School in previous years. She worked in retail for over 20 years working at Walmart in Vero Beach Florida and Walmart and Michaels in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She also worked for Stauffer Transportation in Bellefonte Pennsylvania for a few years.

Brooke received a liver transplant by Dr. Thomas E. Starzl, at Childrens Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the age of 7 ½ months on November 3, 1981. She just celebrated her 42nd anniversary of her transplant and was the longest surviving liver transplant recipient. In her youth she acted as an ambassador to cheer up current liver transplant recipients and to promote Organ donation.

She was an avid reader and enjoyed cruises, baking, crafts, and Disney movies, especially Beauty and the Beast.

She was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers and Penguins fan. As such, she requested that everyone attending the funeral please wear their Pittsburgh Steelers Jerseys or colors (black and gold).

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 3, 2024 at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton Street, State College.

Funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. On Monday, March 4, 2024 at Koch Funeral Home with the Deacon Jack Flannagan officiating.

Burial will be in Centre County Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to University of Pittsburgh, Starzl Transplantation Institute, E1540 Biomedical Science Tower (BST), 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261.

Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com or visit us on Facebook.