Rachel Percy: Tributes for loving Hawke’s Bay mum after cancer battle
A loving mum of two young children who died with cancer is being remembered as someone who “cared about everyone”.
Rachel Percy, 35, died on September 25, surrounded by family at Wellington Hospital. Her funeral is today in Hastings.
She spent most of her adult life living in Hawke’s Bay, where she had her two children, Theia, 6, and Xavier, 4.
Her husband Philip Percy works as a pilot, and the family moved to Manawatū a couple of years ago, with a view of returning to Hastings where they built their family home.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2025 and, despite initial treatment being successful, the cancer returned this year and spread to her brain.
Her family have been humbled by a flood of kind messages and tributes over the past week.
Philip said Rachel would, without hesitation, offer to help anyone in need, and she “cared about everyone”.
“That was just her through and through, and her personality – caring and loving.
“I think that’s why she has touched so many people, because [of] how giving she was.”
He said she was an “amazing mother” and an “amazing person”, and would be sorely missed.
Philip said his wife also loved photography and animals, in particular bugs.
She completed a master’s degree in zoology, focusing on wētā.
“She saves every bug. We are not allowed to kill any bugs in our household; we have to save them and release them outside,” he said.
“She was very, very caring for all animals.”
Rachel wanted to become an entomologist, a scientist who studies insects.
Before her breast cancer diagnosis, she was working at a vet lab.
Rachel’s funeral is being held at Equippers Church in Hastings at 10am on Saturday.
It is expected to be a large gathering with people travelling from near and far.
After her family shared news of her death, tributes poured in on social media.
“Rachel was the very best of all of us – a kind, thoughtful heart ... she was the bravest and strongest woman I knew,” one friend wrote.
“Rachel was one of the most beautiful people I have ever met and I am humbled to have known her,” another person posted.
Rachel was originally from Gisborne, and is survived by her husband, two children, her parents, sister and brother.