Obituary of Stella Normande Riley

It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of Stella N. Riley. Stella passed away on June 17th at the age of 60. She passed peacefully, surrounded by her family, at Saint Joseph’s Hospice in London. She was the cherished wife of Steve Riley and the beloved mother of C-J Kaufmann (Danielle), Rebecca (Justin), and Jessica (Caolán). Stella was also a grandmother-to-be. She will be greatly missed by her many siblings: Mike (Laura), Mary (Greg), Norm (Brenda), Bob, and Rick (Lindsay). She will also be dearly missed by her mother, Bernice. Stella was predeceased by her father, Normand, and her stepfather, Charles. She will also be missed by her many nieces and nephews. Stella was deeply supported by those around her, especially by Julie Riley (Steve) and Nancy Bickell (Doug). Stella fought a long and courageous battle against cancer. She met the illness with every ounce of strength and gave her family more time than we had hoped for. She was born in Kitchener and spent most of her life there until a move to London in 2023 to be closer to family. She spent 30 years working at Lear, where she met her soulmate and many lifelong friends. During her retirement, she and Steve spent their winters exploring the different corners of Arizona. She was an avid watercolor painter, nature walker, and a gracious host to family and friends. The family would like to thank Dr. Mitchell, Dr. Rafael, and Dr. Andrejevic for their help and support during Stella’s battle with cancer. She will be missed greatly by all. As per Stella’s request, if desired, donations can be made to HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre via their website or through CanadaHelps.org. A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, June 22nd, between 1 and 3 p.m. Please contact a family member for the address if you plan to attend.