Judge Rachel Hutzel was a determined and fearless woman who let nothing stand in the way of her career goals, her love of her family and her desire to do good, family members said Wednesday at a memorial for the former Warren County prosecutor.

“Rachel was a phenomenal lawyer, prosecutor and judge,” said her sister, Martha Hutzel. “Far be it for a little thing like being a woman stop Rachel from obtaining the goals she set for herself. Rachel was fearless and she had an iron will…she did everything 100 percent whether it was her career, her beautiful home and garden, or her commitment to her family and church.”

Hutzel, 56, died Saturday from cancer. A memorial service was held Wednesday at St. Francis De Sales Church in Lebanon.

“Rachel is one who understood it was never about her,” said the Rev. Bernard Weldishofer. “She would be the first to ask how you were doing, even though she wasn’t feeling well, even though she was struggling with her sickness. She never brought that up. Most people I’d imagine never knew how sick Rachel was because that wasn’t what was important to her.”

Hutzel, a graduate of the University of Dayton Law School, was the first woman elected as Warren County prosecutor in 2002 and the 12th District Court of Appeals in 2010. She chaired numerous committees and spearheaded the effort for the Warren County Children’s Advocacy Center.

“She always had a positive attitude that she was going to beat cancer…she showed us all what it meant to be a person of tremendous courage and a woman of great faith,” Weldishofer said.

“Rachel excelled at many at many things, especially in her career and in the way she balanced that with her family,” said Martha, who recounted a tale of Rachel giving a phone interview with a reporter while cooking dinner for her family. “Rachel’s commitment to protecting children was second to none.”

Judge Stephen Powell of the 12th District Court presented the family with a flag. All the courts in the 12th district flew their flags at half mass and an empty chair is maintained in the courtroom in Hutzel’s honor.

The Warren County Observatory, which is still in its fundraising stages and based around a telescope built and donated by Hutzel’s husband, Jeff Blazey, will be named in Hutzel’s honor, the family said.