Erin C. Selcher

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Erin Cambre Selcher, in the early morning hours of May 21, 2021. After a 14-month battle with pancreatic cancer, Erin, our beloved warrior, daughter, mother, wife, wise (ass) sister, aunt, super teacher, beach comber, homemaker, and all-around misfit magnet for anyone in need of a friend, found peace. She passed at home with her adoring husband, Steve, by her side. She was 40 years old.

Erin is survived by her parents, Carol Cost (“Papa” Sam Cost) and Dana Olsen (Holly); husband, Steve Selcher; five beautiful children, Cambre (11), Lane (10), Jesse (7), Mac (6) and Torren John (“TJ” - 4); brothers, Jeremy (Anais) and Ben Olsen (Megan); cherished in-laws (Sam and Carol Selcher and Jen and Justin Lewis); step-siblings, Allison and Alex Cost & Matt and Brad Krajsa; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, countless friends and cherished home helper-niece, Kenna Krajsa. Her legacy of perseverance, faith, love, kindness, gratitude and bravery will live on forever in the thousands of people who prayed for her and walked alongside her on this journey. Throughout her experience with pancreatic cancer, she remained steadfast in her faith, choosing the slogan, “victory either way,” to define her fate.

Born Erin Cambre Olsen in Harrisburg, PA on September 27, 1980, Erin was raised in a vibrant community that she had endless stories about. At Middletown High School she was a standout athlete, not to mention a better passer on the soccer field than her brother, Ben. After earning a Masters degree in Special Education at West Chester University, she taught at Garnet Valley Middle School, where she also coached girls soccer and taught Special Education to kids that she loved and cherished deeply.  Despite various accolades, she believed wholeheartedly that her children were her greatest achievement, and the greatest gift she could leave behind.  From the day she was born, she always knew that the title she wanted above all else was “Mom” and what a great Mom she was. 

Diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer in January, 2020, she fought valiantly in her last year of life so that the people who loved her most could sit and reminisce or gaze at the ocean or dance in a party bus with, or fly through the air or score a goal for, or simply kiss and hold one last time. She enjoyed the company of others immensely. Steve and Erin’s open-door policy is well known throughout Downingtown and beyond. Even in Erin’s final weeks you could find a dozen people putzing around in the kitchen, or scuttling in and out of her bedroom––and she made sure everyone was looked after and fed. Toward the end of her life her humor rose to even loftier (and sometimes darker) heights, poking fun at her brothers and husband until the end, and whispering things that shed a comedic light on her own short life, as well as everyone else’s.  

Eventually Erin had had enough of our whimpering around and insistence that she eat something, and she died in the night, as peacefully and gracefully as she lived, with Steve praying next to her (on the Peloton), and Grammy wrangling the dogs, and best friends scheduling drugs and play dates and several neighbors tying purple bows around mailboxes, even though that kind of thing is certainly against HOA rules.  

It’s worth mentioning that despite battling chemo and a devastated liver, Erin became only more adorable in her signature pearl earing’s, and ultimately left with only one regret—that she hadn’t shaved her head and generally lived life with a “kiss my ass, I have cancer” sensibility, much earlier.

Our sweet, sweet Erin was loved by so many, because of the love she poured out to all. Our hearts are broken and we will forever miss everything about her. We will miss her beautiful smile, soft touch, strong hugs, silly laugh and love for all. Even though we knew this day was coming and we prayed for the grace to face it, nothing could have prepared us for such a loss. Yet we must go on, and be better for knowing her, and trust as she had in the grace of God.  Her faith and trust in God is what she wanted all to know.  She made it well known that we were to celebrate her life and know that once she’s gone, she’s dancing in heaven with Jesus...  “Victory either way”.   It’s one thing to say those words, it’s another to live them like she did.  

We’d personally like to thank each and every one of you who has cared, cooked, loved and prayed for our family over the past 14 months.  You have lifted and carried us more than you will ever know.  We are all eternally thankful for each of you.  Please continue to care for others in need as you did for us and do it in Erin’s memory.  She would love that and want nothing more.

A service will be held on Thursday, May 27, at 2 PM, at Christ Community Church in West Chester, PA.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite Foundation and the Westside Community Center.

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