Rachel Barbara Harden, age 47, of Belleville, Ill., passed away peacefully on November 22, 2025, after a courageous battle with breast cancer.

Rachel was born on January 21, 1978, on Beale Air Force Base in California. She is the daughter of Barbara Ann Harden, nee Giles, and Richard Henry Harden. Rachel grew up in O'Fallon, Ill., where her family was stationed after an assignment in Biloxi, Miss. She attended O'Fallon Township High School, where she participated in color guard. She grew up attending O'Fallon Assembly of God and was active in the youth group before setting out on her own after graduating from O'Fallon Township High School in 1996.

She attended Job Corps in Saginaw, Mich., where she studied and successfully graduated as an optician. She spent her life working in this industry, helping people improve their vision through her trade.

Rachel was a spirited woman whose life was spent sharing her love with the people who entered her life. She was a kind and caring woman who provided help to those in need and sought to be inclusive of those around her. She will be remembered for her outgoing and welcoming personality, her ability to bring smiles to those in her life, and her fierce loyalty to those she loved.

She is survived by her children, Aidan Michael, Lily Raine, and Preston Jeremiah. She also leaves behind her mother, Barbara, father, Richard, and her siblings, Richard, Melissa, and Matthew.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2025, with visitation beginning at 1:00 pm and service at 2:00 pm at St. George's Episcopal Church located at 105 East D Street, Belleville, IL. 62220. There will be light refreshments following the service. We ask that you honor Rachel's memory by wearing her favorite color, purple.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the following charitable organizations:

National Breast Cancer Foundation: https://fundraise.nbcf.org/fundraiser/6848011?is_new=true

Neurofibromatosis Midwest: https://give.nfmidwest.org/fundraiser/6848006?is_new=true