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Name means
Ewe
Role
Beloved wife of Jacob; mother of Joseph and Benjamin
When
c. 1900 BC (traditional)

What they did

Jacob served seven years for her, and they seemed but a few days for his love. After years of barrenness God remembered her and gave her Joseph; she died giving birth to Benjamin.

Why it matters: the purpose of their role

Through her son Joseph God preserved Israel in famine. Jeremiah's picture of 'Rachel weeping for her children' is applied in Matthew to the time of Christ's birth.

And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. Genesis 30:22 (KJV)

Bible references

And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. Genesis 29:18 (KJV)
And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach: And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son. Genesis 30:22-24 (KJV)
And they journeyed from Beth-el; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Ben-oni: but his father called him Benjamin. And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Beth-lehem. Genesis 35:16-19 (KJV)
Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not. Jeremiah 31:15 (KJV)
In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. Matthew 2:18 (KJV)

Family

Father
Laban
Spouse(s)
Jacob
Children
Joseph, Benjamin
Brothers / sisters
Leah

Buried on the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem (Genesis 35:19).