Rachael Johnston of Unity had a loving heart, taking care of children in her work and babysitting relatives and loving pets — both cats and dogs.
“I knew her as a very gentle, loving person. She got along very well with kids and pets,” said her uncle, Herman Lagally of Unity.
“She was taking care of others even when she was a little girl,” said her aunt, Karen Lagally. She would babysit her younger cousins.
Rachael S. Johnston died of natural causes Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, in Excela Health Westmoreland hospital in Greensburg.
She was 37.
She was born Feb. 2, 1983, in Pittsburgh, a daughter of Lynn Bertoluzzi Johnston of Unity and the late Raymond L. Johnston.
Ms. Johnston was a graduate of Greater Latrobe Senior High School.
After graduating from Slippery Rock University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology criminology, she worked at Aldelphoi USA, the Latrobe-based organization that provides treatment and education services for abused, neglected, delinquent and at-risk children.
“That’s where she became interested in counseling and pursued her master’s degree,” Karen Lagally said. She graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a master’s in clinical mental health counseling.
Ms. Johnston worked as a family resource specialist for JusticeWorks Youth Care Inc. of Hempfield, where she was awarded employee of the month several times.
She went into the homes of clients and counseled children and parents, Karen Lagally said.
Ms. Johnston was an accomplished ice dancer and competed with her brother, Ross Johnston of Pittsburgh. They took skating lessons and practiced at the Kirk S. Nevin Arena in Greensburg.
Ms. Johnston loved vacationing in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
“She was on the edge of her dreams. She got a blue Jeep and was saving money to move to the Outer Banks,” Karen Lagally said.
Her aunt, Hollis Uklay of Charlotte, N.C., said Ms. Johnston would babysit her younger cousins.
“She was good to them, and they appreciated her kindness,” Uklay said.
The family recalled her kindness.
“I don’t ever recall her saying a negative word about anybody,” Herman Lagally said.
In addition to her mother and brother, she is survived by her aunts and uncles, Karen and Herman Lagally of Unity, Pam Endsley of Denver, Rick and Joan Bertoluzzi of Denver, Keith and Mary Jean Bertoluzzi of Portersville, Hollis and Jim Ulaky of Charlotte, N.C., and Jim and Cathy Johnston of Ligonier.
A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday at Kepple-Graft Funeral Home, 524 N. Main St., Greensburg. Memorials may be made to Christian Layman Corps, 258 E. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg, PA 15601, or to one’s favorite charity.
