Obituary for Edmund A. Reiley Jr.
Edmund A. Reiley, Jr. of Shrewsbury, MA and formerly of Pottsville, PA went to rest in the bosom of the Lord on July 29, 2017, surrounded by his loving family. Born on May 17, 1929, in Pottsville, Eddie was the son of the late Edmund A. Sr. and Cecilia Dewey Reiley.
A 1948 graduate of Pottsville Catholic High School, Eddie earned the Lions Club Football Player of the Year Award in 1947. After attending Ford Business School and Penn State Center, Eddie enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1950 and honorably served his country in Panama during the Korean Conflict. Upon his return, in 1954 Eddie entered the family business, and enjoyed selling and servicing Maytags, Frigidaires, and RCAs for Reiley’s Stores Inc. in Pottsville and Shenandoah, where he eventually served as president of that firm. Upon the closure of that business, Eddie and his family moved to Shrewsbury, MA where he worked as an engineering technician until his retirement.
In 1959, Eddie married Evelyn Burke of New Philadelphia. “Burkey” as he would affectionately call her, from time to time, was the love of his life and their time together was a genuine love story. From their union three children were born - Robert, Kathleen, and Cecile. The couple also has eight grandchildren – Matthew and Sarah Keiler, Samuel, Audrey, Benjamin, and Daniel Reiley, and Luke and Daniel Groder. Eddie also leaves behind sons-in-law Mark and Kelby, daughter-in-law Elizabeth, a brother- and sister-in-law, nieces and nephews, and dozens of cousins and friends. Eddie is also survived by two brothers, Robert of Orwigsburg and John of Pottsville, and a sister Kathleen of Tokyo Japan. In addition to his parents, Eddie was preceded in death by sisters Eleanor and Cecile.
Eddie had a great love for God, his community, and the earth itself. He served in many capacities, like President of the Shenandoah Rotary Club, volunteer for the annual Catholic Bishops Appeal, and Catholic Charities, and was a benefactor of the Sierra Club, DeSales University, Maryknoll Missions, and other charitable organizations. He was also a long time and active member of the Church of St. Patrick, Pottsville and St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Shrewsbury, MA. Eddie was also a caring and responsible steward of the farm he owned on Fork Mountain in West Brunswick Township, and the farm that he shared with his siblings in Deer Lake known as R-Vue.
While not an official resident of Pottsville for over 35 years, the city and its people always held a special place in Eddie’s heart. Some of his happiest moments in life were spent working at the store in “Shenador.” He also cherished his connection to the Burke and McGowan clans of New Philadelphia. He was proud to be known as a Reiley from Pottsville and equally proud to be known as a Dewey from Girardville. He even left his mark in Massachusetts where family turned to his calm reassuring presence during a time of family crisis, where neighbors looked to him in an hour of need, and where friends gathered for a beer on the deck to watch the Patriots play on an autumn afternoon.
Beloved by many, Eddie had a deep concern for people. He was always interested in what others were doing, where they going, and how they were feeling. His first concern was for the welfare of others and then for himself. He took the time to know people and to listen to them. He was a man of dignity and integrity who had a big heart and a big smile. He made people feel important, no matter what their station in life, because to him everyone was important. He was generous, compassionate, gentle, kind, forgiving, and loving. He was a man of prayer. He was a man of faith. He was a man who kept his promises. He will be sorely missed. He will certainly rest in peace in the presence of the Lord.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with family on Saturday, August 5, 2017 from 9:00 AM at the Lord Bixler Funeral Home 1818 Mahantongo St, Pottsville until the processional leaves for the church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 AM that day at the Church of St. Patrick, 319 Mahantongo St, Pottsville with the Rev. Robert J. Reiley, M.M. officiating. Internment will follow at Our Lady of Calvary Cemetery, Hillside, Pottsville. In lieu of flowers the family prefers donations to be made in Eddie’s name to the Nativity B.V.M. High School Scholarship Fund, One Lawton’s Hill, Pottsville, PA.
Lord Bixler Funeral Home, Pottsville is in charge of the local arrangements.
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A 1948 graduate of Pottsville Catholic High School, Eddie earned the Lions Club Football Player of the Year Award in 1947. After attending Ford Business School and Penn State Center, Eddie enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1950 and honorably served his country in Panama during the Korean Conflict. Upon his return, in 1954 Eddie entered the family business, and enjoyed selling and servicing Maytags, Frigidaires, and RCAs for Reiley’s Stores Inc. in Pottsville and Shenandoah, where he eventually served as president of that firm. Upon the closure of that business, Eddie and his family moved to Shrewsbury, MA where he worked as an engineering technician until his retirement.
In 1959, Eddie married Evelyn Burke of New Philadelphia. “Burkey” as he would affectionately call her, from time to time, was the love of his life and their time together was a genuine love story. From their union three children were born - Robert, Kathleen, and Cecile. The couple also has eight grandchildren – Matthew and Sarah Keiler, Samuel, Audrey, Benjamin, and Daniel Reiley, and Luke and Daniel Groder. Eddie also leaves behind sons-in-law Mark and Kelby, daughter-in-law Elizabeth, a brother- and sister-in-law, nieces and nephews, and dozens of cousins and friends. Eddie is also survived by two brothers, Robert of Orwigsburg and John of Pottsville, and a sister Kathleen of Tokyo Japan. In addition to his parents, Eddie was preceded in death by sisters Eleanor and Cecile.
Eddie had a great love for God, his community, and the earth itself. He served in many capacities, like President of the Shenandoah Rotary Club, volunteer for the annual Catholic Bishops Appeal, and Catholic Charities, and was a benefactor of the Sierra Club, DeSales University, Maryknoll Missions, and other charitable organizations. He was also a long time and active member of the Church of St. Patrick, Pottsville and St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Shrewsbury, MA. Eddie was also a caring and responsible steward of the farm he owned on Fork Mountain in West Brunswick Township, and the farm that he shared with his siblings in Deer Lake known as R-Vue.
While not an official resident of Pottsville for over 35 years, the city and its people always held a special place in Eddie’s heart. Some of his happiest moments in life were spent working at the store in “Shenador.” He also cherished his connection to the Burke and McGowan clans of New Philadelphia. He was proud to be known as a Reiley from Pottsville and equally proud to be known as a Dewey from Girardville. He even left his mark in Massachusetts where family turned to his calm reassuring presence during a time of family crisis, where neighbors looked to him in an hour of need, and where friends gathered for a beer on the deck to watch the Patriots play on an autumn afternoon.
Beloved by many, Eddie had a deep concern for people. He was always interested in what others were doing, where they going, and how they were feeling. His first concern was for the welfare of others and then for himself. He took the time to know people and to listen to them. He was a man of dignity and integrity who had a big heart and a big smile. He made people feel important, no matter what their station in life, because to him everyone was important. He was generous, compassionate, gentle, kind, forgiving, and loving. He was a man of prayer. He was a man of faith. He was a man who kept his promises. He will be sorely missed. He will certainly rest in peace in the presence of the Lord.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with family on Saturday, August 5, 2017 from 9:00 AM at the Lord Bixler Funeral Home 1818 Mahantongo St, Pottsville until the processional leaves for the church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 AM that day at the Church of St. Patrick, 319 Mahantongo St, Pottsville with the Rev. Robert J. Reiley, M.M. officiating. Internment will follow at Our Lady of Calvary Cemetery, Hillside, Pottsville. In lieu of flowers the family prefers donations to be made in Eddie’s name to the Nativity B.V.M. High School Scholarship Fund, One Lawton’s Hill, Pottsville, PA.
Lord Bixler Funeral Home, Pottsville is in charge of the local arrangements.
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