Loretta Rachel Hetler

Loretta “Rachel” Hetler went home to be with Our Lord on May 25, 2016, at the age of 85. A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, she was born on September 16, 1930 in LaSara, TX, to L.G. and Agnes Wilde Nash. As was common in the time, Rachel was a helper in the family, who lovingly assisted in the daily care of her 6 siblings. She attended LyFord High School where met and later married Sylvester Brashear. They moved to Thibodaux, Louisiana, and had 3 sons, Kenneth, Keith and Kevin.
Rachel was one of the early "working moms" of her time. She was employed to help support her family as a Nurse’s Aide at the Retama Manor Nursing Center, and Willacy County Hospital in Raymondville, Texas. There she later met her second husband, Raymond Walker. They lived in San Juan, Texas, and he passed away a few short years after.
After Raymond’s passing, Rachel was employment at various places, and was working in a cafe in McAllen, Texas where she met, and later married her husband of 33 years, Robert “Bob” Hetler. When they moved to Corpus Christi, Rachel worked at the public library as an assistant, while attending Delmar Community College. There she earned an Associate’s Degree in Restaurant management. She applied her true passion of cooking by working as the manager of the local school cafeteria. She truly enjoyed cooking for the school-children and working with her team to have home-made meals every day. She absolutely refused to serve frozen or boxed fast-food.
Rachel was gifted as extraordinary cook and hostess who enjoyed sharing her culinary treasures with family and friends. She was often the go-to person to make special meals for families in need, or sandwich delicacies for their church’s outreach in Corpus Christi. When her husband Bob became ill, Rachel modified many of their favorite recipes, so he could continue to enjoy them as well. She will forever be an inspiration to those whose lives she touched with her hospitality & common sense approach to life.
Rachel spent the last 3 years of her life under the skillful, and compassionate care of Brookdale Senior Memory Care in Corpus Christi, and Brookdale Nacogdoches Senior Memory Care in San Antonio. Our family is grateful for their assistance in allowing her to live out end of her life in dignity and respect.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Robert “Bob” Hetler, sister -Lorene Stahl, and brother –David Nash. Rachel is survived by her sons: Kenneth Brashear, Keith Brashear, Kevin Brashear, stepson Gary Hetler, and stepdaughter Cindy Dillingham. Other survivors include her sisters Mildred Simpson, Doris Knight, Gloria Jean Sain, & brother Carl Nash. She also has a quiver full of loving nephews, nieces, grand children, and great-grand children.

A memorial service honoring Rachel’s life will be held on Friday, June 3rd, at 1pm in the Cornerstone Chapel, 18755 Stone Oak Parkway, San Antonio, TX. A reception for friends and family will be held immediately following the service. She will be laid to rest beside her loving husband Robert (Bob) Hetler at Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery, in Corpus Christi, TX.
As her best friend remarked, “She's been a good wife, good mother, and a good sister, and a faithful servant of God.”