|
 Sara
Catherine Vilm Belli, 78, died Friday, June 26, 2009 at The Glen
at Willow Valley. She was born February 28, 1931 in Enid, OK, the
only child of Simon N. (Nick) and Helen Hutchinson Vilm. She grew
up in El Reno, OK, graduating from El Reno High School and
Oklahoma State University, having majored in Business and minored
in Secretarial Administration. She was a member of Alpha Delta Pi
sorority.
Sara worked
for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. in Oklahoma City, as a
secretary for the Commanding Officer of the Maintenance and Supply
Group, Vance Air Force Base in Enid and in the Personnel Office at
Fort Still, OK.
At Fort Still,
she met Marine Captain Roy L. Belli. They were married December 5,
1959 in Our Lady of Victory Chapel, Naval Operating Base, Norfolk,
VA. As a Marine wife, she organized and managed eleven homes in
the first fifteen years of marriage and raised three children
frequently in Roy's absence due to unaccompanied duty. She was an
excellent cook and baker, and an accomplished hostess.
They settled
in Fairfax, VA in 1974 and remained for 26 years. They were active
members of Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Sara became and avid
genealogist eventually acquiring a large library of photos,
documentation and a computer database of over
11,000 of
their ancestors. After Roy's retirement, they traveled extensively
to all 50 states, Canada, and Europe.
In 2000, she
and Roy moved to Willow Valley Retirement Community in Lancaster,
PA and became active member of St. Mary's Parish.
In addition to
Roy, she is survived by daughter, Linda C. Hess of Stafford, VA;
son James L. (Jim) Belli of Olympia, WA; and three grandchildren:
Patrick, Catherine, and Sarah Hess of Stafford. She was
predeceased by son John N. Belli; daughter-in-law Lynne Urquhart
Belli and granddaughter, Nicole Laine Belli of Lawrenceville, GA.
Friends will
be received on Wednesday, July 22nd from 7-9PM at the Charles F.
Snyder Funeral Home, 414 E. King St., Lancaster, PA, with a
Christian Prayer Service at 815PM. The Mass of Christian Burial
will be on Thursday, July 23rd at 1030AM at St. Mary's
Catholic Church, 119 S. Prince St., Lancaster, PA, with the Rev
Leo Goodman as Celebrant. Interment in Arlington National
Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in Sara's
memory to the Brunner Fund, 600 Willow Valley Square, Lancaster,
PA 17602. To send an online condolence, please visit
www.snyderfuneralhome.com |
