Obituary

Amy Rastatter, 59, of South Beaver Township in Beaver Falls, PA passed away on November 27th after a short but courageous battle with a rare and aggressive cancer. Amy fought hard to stay with her family, but when she was called Home, she passed peacefully, surrounded in love with her family by her side.

Amy was born on March 1st, 1963 to Lee and Charles Hamlin in Boston, MA. Amy went on to study economics at the Pennsylvania State University. During her time at Penn State, she met her best friend, partner and love of her life, Dan. They were married in 1985, going on to have four beautiful children, Emily, Sarah, Anna, and Adam.

When Amy had her first child, she sacrificed a successful career to stay home and provide her children with the most memorable, loving childhood possible.  She was generous in spirit, provided wise counsel and loved fiercely. She set a beautiful example that her children will strive to follow for the rest of their lives.

Together, Dan and Amy built their first house together at Baker Hollow in Indiana.  The home was filled with the sounds of rescued animals, kids racing around on the wrap-around porch, and constant calls to go for hikes and explore the world around them. Wherever Amy was, life thrived.

Following a move, Dan and Amy built their second house together on a farm in South Beaver Township, fulfilling a lifelong dream of Amy’s to have horses and establishing a home that her children were able to grow in love and adventure.  Her children still eagerly return to “The Farm” any chance they get, eager to relive and reconnect with their countless joyful childhood memories.   Amy was a lifelong horseback rider, finding peace, happiness and solace in working with horses.  When she wasn’t filling her home with warmth and kindness, she could be found milling around the barn, sharing time with her horse Risky, on the annual neighborhood Thanksgiving trail ride with Cash, or baling thousands of bales of hay with her family and neighbors.

Amy was an incredible person and easy to love.  The warmth of her soft smile, the glimmer of joy and hope in her eyes, and the love and strength in her hugs will live on in our hearts and minds forever and ever.  She will be lovingly, desperately missed.

Amy was predeceased by her parents, Lee and Charlie.   She is survived by her treasured husband, Dan, her sisters Beth and Mary, and children and children-in-law, Emily, Sarah, Mark, Anna, Adam and Marissa, as well as countless other extended family members and friends she made feel like they were family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to advancing TIL cancer treatment, a cutting-edge and lifesaving treatment still in development.  In true Amy-fashion, Amy’s enrollment in the study will pave the way towards a cancer-free future, and to ensure that families no longer have to fight this terrible disease.  Dr. Kammula and his team provided hope and encouragement throughout this difficult fight.  To donate, please visit https://www.giveto.pitt.edu/upmchcc and enter “In memory of Amy Rastatter, to support TIL research in the lab of Dr. Udai Kammula” into the note box.

Family and friends of Amy are respectfully invited to attend the funeral visitation for Amy, which will be held at Gabauer-Lutton Funeral Home on Blackhawk Road in Beaver Falls on December 8th, 2022, beginning at 4pm. A prayer service will conclude the evening at 8pm.