“A day where we can help others is a great day.” - Rachel Volpe, RNC, BSN

Rachel Anne Coronato Volpe was born in 1965 in Staten Island, NY. For over 50 years, she dedicated herself to the service of others. Rachel's life was a glorious melody to which she added layers of beautiful harmony with a passion for her profession, her family, and her faith.

Rachel worked at Staten Island University Hospital for 25 years as a critical care nurse, in addition to school nursing and home care. She went on to become the Executive Director of the Staten Island Heart Society for almost 15 years, teaching CPR to more than 10,000 New Yorkers CPR and donating over 1,000 Automated External Defibrillators to nonprofits throughout the city. Rachel wore countless other hats for her community including vaccinating thousands of people against COVID-19 with the NYC PODs, donating meals multiple times a day with Meals on Wheels, providing years of support to the Sisters of St. John the Baptist, and most of all being the matriarch of her family. 

Her lifetime of dedication to her community was celebrated in 2024 when she was named one of Staten Island's Women of Achievement, an award given to women who give of themselves completely to support Staten Islanders.

In July 2022, Rachel received her pancreatic cancer diagnosis, but she did not let that stop her. She continued to work tirelessly to support her community and live her life with her family to the fullest, all with a smile on her face and a prayer in her heart. After 2 years of treatments and complications, Rachel passed away on October 30, 2024 surrounded by her family.

We, the family and friends of Rachel Volpe, strive to live each day with the same love and selflessness that she did by embodying one simple phrase: Be Like Rachel!

To read more about Rachel’s story, please visit: https://www.silive.com/news/2024/11/rachel-anne-coronato-volpe-whose-life-was-a-melody-of-love-and-service-and-advance-woman-of-achievement-dies-at-59.html?outputType=amp

We’re taking steps at the ultimate walk to end pancreatic cancer, PanCAN PurpleStride, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Our team wants to make the biggest impact on the lives of pancreatic cancer patients – and we need you to do it!​

Here’s where you come in – We’ve set an ambitious fundraising goal – because the more money we raise, the bigger impact we make – and would be profoundly grateful for your donation. A gift of any size will help patients and families facing a pancreatic cancer diagnosis.

Let’s show everyone impacted by pancreatic cancer that we’re fighting for them – thank you for your support!