Philomena Reali

Philomena (Nina) Reali passed away Jan. 13, 2015, in Las Vegas. There will be no local memorial services.

Philomena was born May 18, 1929, in McKeesport, Pa. She resided in Mountain Home from 1990 to 2012.

She is survived by her sisters, Laura Roberts, Ann Schloss and Teresa Cowan along with many other relatives and friends. Her final resting place will be in Clairton, Pa., alongside her loving mother and father, Elizabeth and Joseph.

It is always difficult to express what we think and what we feel at these times when we lose something or someone special. Philomena was a gift to our lives in so many ways. She could be brassy, stubborn obstinate and yes even set in her ways. She was vocal and opinionated, not afraid to speak what she thought or what she felt, yet never spoke or acted in a manner to intentionally hurt anyone.

She was never married, never had children of her own and for some she left no legacy. Nothing more false could ever be said. Her legacy is how she touched the hearts of everyone she met, especially those she loved, her sisters, her sister's family, their offspring and the offspring of those, and also her closest friends and the members of her congregation. When she lived nearby, she was a part of every anniversary, every birthday, every holiday, every wedding and every birth. Through the good times and the sad, Philomena was there showing that loving the Lord, meant showing love to all.

Philomena did not possess great wealth or material possessions. What she did possess was a heart larger than her small frame should have been able to possess. Only those of us that knew Philomena knew that and saw what she did for us and what she meant to us. She truly would have given up everything she possessed if it meant helping someone in her extended family or anyone else.

We will miss the flower known as Philomena, but we will not forget her. We know that she is just preparing the place that she has gone, for the rest of us when our passing comes. Believe me when I say, we love our flower Philomena.

There was no one like her, and there will be no one like her ever. We are proud to be her legacy.