Cecelia Reiling

Cecelia Reiling, age 84 of Garnett, passed away on Thursday, March 4, 2010, at Villa St. Francis, Olathe, Kansas. She was born on March 7, 1925, at Harris, Kansas, the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Scully) Wilper. She grew up in the Harris area, graduating from Garnett High School. Following high school she attended Pittsburg State Teacher's College where she earned her teaching certificate. She then taught in the one room West Scipio School. Cecelia was united in marriage to William Henry Reiling on April 18, 1950, at St. Patrick's Church, Emerald, Kansas. This marriage was blessed with three daughters. Bill served in the Air Force; this took the family all over the country and even to Japan. They lived in Texas, Washington and California. While in Washington she taught at St. Joseph's School in Vancouver, Washington. In 1966 the family returned to Garnett where they opened the 5th Street Caf and later Reiling Foods, which she operated into the 1970's. Cecelia was a member of Holy Angels Church and Holy Angels Altar Society. She enjoyed quilting, gardening, sewing, and was an excellent cook, she was especially known for her rolls and lemon meringue and coconut cream pie. Cecelia was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, William Reiling, on December 19, 1987; five brothers, Bernard, Joseph, Luke, Omer and Benjamin Wilper; and two sisters, Florence Randall and Katherine Hermann. She is survived by her daughters, Sarah Reiling of Dallas, Texas; Linda Finck and husband David of Kansas City, Kansas; Nathalie Reiling of Overland Park, Kansas; five grandchildren, Billy Reiling and wife Allison of Olathe, Kansas; Owen Hairston of Dallas, Texas; Lilia Hairston of Dallas, Texas; Sylvester Finck of Lawrence, Kansas; Nicholas Finck of Kansas City, Kansas; three great grandchildren Will, Adrienne and Aubrey Reiling; two brothers, Charles Wilper and wife Rita of Harris, Kansas and Edward Wilper and wife Agnes of Harris, Kansas; and numerous nieces, nephews, friends and relatives. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Garnett, Kansas. Burial will follow at the Holy Angels Cemetery in Garnett. Family will greet friends following a Rosary at 7:30 p.m. on Monday evening at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel in Garnett. Memorial contributions may be made to Villa St. Francis - Olathe and left in care of the funeral home.