Della L. Riley

Della Lena Mary Grace (Hummel) Riley was born December 24, 1925, in Ross County (Massieville) Ohio, to Walter J. "Bud" Hummel and Dorothy Grace (McGathey) Hummel. She attended first grade in the one-room Malone School House on Malone Road and Catholic grade schools at St. Peter and St. Mary in Chillicothe. She later attended Chillicothe High School and South Boston High School in Boston, MA. Her family returned to Ross County in 1943. She graduated from Huntington High School in 1945. On September 6, 1943, the first day of school at Huntington High School, she met Marvin Ernest Riley and it was "love at first sight." They were married on May 28, 1947, after Marvin completed military service in Germany at the end of WWII. Three daughters were born to this union: Delma Ann Rouleau; Grace Marlene (Michael) Holman; and Maxie Marie (Randy) Good, all of Chillicothe. In addition to her husband and three daughters, she is survived by three sisters-in-law Zelma Lapp, Retha Underwood and her husband William; Maxine Wright; two brothers-in-law Earl Dean Riley and wife Linda; Thomas Lamar Riley and wife Carol; six grandchildren: Jason Fath, Zachary Fath, Jonathan Rouleau, Aaron Rouleau, Francois Rouleau, Holly (Good) Walker; twelve great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by one son-in-law Joseph Rouleau; seven brothers-in-law: Orel Shea Riley, John Harold Riley, William A. Riley, Jr., Robert J. Lapp, John Webb, Richard Dolan and Elsworth Wright; two nephews: Orel Shea Riley II and John Harold Riley, Jr. Della's life vocation was being a loving and dedicated wife, mother and homemaker for her family. She was also involved in her community and St. Mary Catholic Church. She volunteered in many activities, including: Usher and Eucharistic Minister at St. Mary; member of Parish Council; co-founder and Chairperson of the St. Mary Lazarus Committee for 31 years; Prison Ministry (C.C.I. & R.C.I.) for 20 years; Columbus Diocesan Commission on Justice and Peace for 15 years; receiving the coveted Father Gus Winkler Award in 1988; St. Mary and Bishop Flaget Mother's Club. Her community involvement included Goodwill Industries Board for 19 years; Carver Community Center Board for 17 years; Huntington High School Alumni Committee for many years serving as Honorary Chairperson and Secretary. She was also an active member of the NAACP. Della was an active and dedicated supporter of working people and organized labor. Local Union 998, U.P.I.U., AFL-CIO-CLC honored her with an honorary Life Membership in Local 988. Della was a very generous person who donated to countless charities during the years. Two of her favorites were the Chillicothe 4th of July Fireworks Program and the St. Mary-St. Vincent DePaul Society. Della was a devoted Christian and was baptized into the Roman Catholic Church on the 9th day of February, 1936 in St. Peter Church, Chillicothe, by Rev. Fr. Francis J. Krauskemp. She was of the 4th generation of 7 generations of her family to worship at St. Mary Church in Chillicothe. Her Hummel ancestors immigrated from Baden-Baden, Germany in the 1860's and settled in Chillicothe. Her mother, Grace, died in 1944 at the age of 37; and her father Walter, died in 1952, at the age of 58. After graduation from high school, she lived with her father who was employed in 1946 as a stationary engineer at the Maine State Prison for women. Della was also employed at the prison as a secretary until her fiancée (Marvin) returned from his Army Constabulary tour of duty in Germany in 1947. She was never employed outside the home after her marriage. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00am Tuesday, March 19, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Rev. Lawrence Hummer, Celebrant. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery. Friends may call Monday from 6-8:30pm at Haller Funeral Home, where a wake service will be held at 8:30pm. Memorial contributions may be made to either: St. Mary-St. Vincent DePaul Society, 61 S. Paint St., Chillicothe; or the Chillicothe City Fireworks Fund, c/o Chillicothe Office of the Mayor, 35 S. Paint St., Chillicothe.
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