Obituary of Rita G. Dell

Rita Gehl Dell passed away peacefully on October 26, 2011. Born in Corning, New York, the youngest of five children to Hippolyte and Mary Lehnert Gehl, she graduated from St. Mary's School and Corning Free Academy. Following her schooling, she was employed at Corning Glass Works as a secretary and as a model for industry publications relating to Consumer Products. It was at work that she met Raymond Cronin Dell and they married in 1942. After her marriage, Rita was a stay at home mother where she and her husband raised four children. During this time, she was a leader with girl scouts and cub scouts; an active member of the Catholic Action Society of St. Vincent's Church working on many fundraisers, including church dinners and special presentations. She also was a member of Hospital Chapter D of the Corning Hospital Auxiliary, volunteered at Red Cross blood banks and for Meals on Wheels. When her children were grown, Rita went back to work in the Steuben Shop of the Corning Glass Center and then as a receptionist in the Administration Building of Corning Glass. Following the death of her husband, she took part in many Elderhostel programs and in her mid eighties, moved to Rochester, NY. She lived in the Rochester area for 8 years prior to returning to the Corning area. Mrs. Dell was always interested in learning many new and creative projects: taking ceramics and pottery classes, rug hooking classes at the Arnot Museum, making clothes and decorative wreaths. One of her largest projects was designing a Christmas outdoor home decoration that was awarded 2nd place in the city of Corning competition. She also latch hooked an 8 by 10 foot rug of the University of Vermont seal which hangs in the hall of the UVM Business School. Well liked by everyone for her thoughtful and caring ways, Mrs. Dell will be missed by all who knew her. Mrs. Dell was predeceased by her parents, her siblings and her husband of 51 years. She is survived by: daughters: Maureen of Fairport, NY, and Kathleen (David) of California; sons: John Stephen (Pamela) of NC and Raymond (Valerie) of Corning, NY. Mrs. Dell has four grandchildren: Rachel Dell Gondek (Christian), R. Christopher Dell, Berk Dell Norman and Bennett Dell Norman. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Mt. Savior Monastery, 231 Monastery Road, Pine City, NY 14871 or All Saints Academy, 158 State St., Corning, NY 14830. The family would like to especially thank Rita's good friend Fr. Jeremiah Moynihan for being with her and the family through happy and sad times; her Corning physician, Dr. Joseph Mathey who always had the time to converse and share stories with her; Fr. Lew Brown of All Saints church and the Eucharist ministers who faithfully gave her communion and the staff of 3C Arnot Ogden Medical Center. Friends are invited to call at Phillips Funeral Home 17 West Pultney St. Corning ,NY 14830 from 4 to 7pm on Sunday, October 30th. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday October 31,2011 at 11AM at St. Vincent de Paul's Church in Corning , NY. The Celebrants of Mrs. Dell's Funeral Mass will be Rev. Jeremiah Moynihan and Rev. Lew Brown. Rita will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband Raymond C. Dell Sr. in St. Mary's Cemetery in Corning. NY. Arrangements are entrusted to the LYNCH FUNERAL HOME 318 WEST BROAD STREET HORSEHEADS , NY.