Don will always be remembered for his generous heart (always ready to help anyone who needed it), his love for the things in the sky (planets and stars and satellites), his tinkering (was there anything that the man couldn't fix?), his love for family, both blood and extended (great big love),  and the very special love shared by him and Sheila (such a special relationship that was witnessed by all).  He will certainly be missed by anyone who was fortunate enough to get to know him. The void in our family is so hard to comprehend.  It's going to take a really long time for healing. Yet that's what he would want. He would want all who loved him to find comfort. Don, you left a legacy in this world. The things you taught. The way you saw things. The love you shared. The big things. The little things. The hard things. The silly things. 
(I just had that flash back of you and the milk challenge!)
Your time on this earth was way too short. But I'm guessing that that would be said no matter how long you were here. I truly feel that you will be watching closely over Sheila, Jess, Jeff and the girls, Don, Liz and Shirley. Till we all meet again....

 


I have been blessed to be close friends with Sheila for over 15 years.  Sheila and Don have shared and lived a great love story! I remember your 25th Anniversary party and the wonderful speeches your children gave in honor of you both.
What a great tribute when your children honor the love that you have shown them in your lives everyday! The precious memories, love and selflessness that Don shared with his family will live on in his children and grandchildren!! May this closeness and strength be a source of comfort for you all.   Don's life well lived and well loved!! He will be missed by many!!



Don - I will always remember your kindness and sense of humor and the many fun times our families had together. I was always in awe of your tremendous talent at being able to fix, create, build or take apart anything! You were always willing to help anyone whenever they needed you. But most of all I will remember your unwavering love and devotion to your family and how you loved my son like he was your own. I will miss you very much.


I have known Don since his daughter, Jessica, became engaged to my brother, Jeff.  From that moment on he welcomed me into his family with open arms.   I will remember how he patiently taught me the correct way to eat crabs and how he could fix anything.  On our Virginia Beach vacations he always made sure there was a tent by the pool and on the beach for shade.  He would bring games and kites and many techno gadgets to watch movies and play music.  Our vacations were better because Don was there.  I have so many fond memories of Don.  But my favorite memory of him will always be how much he loved his granddaughters.  I will miss you Don.

One thing about Don, we all know how smart he was but actually he was a genius. I remember long before we thought about flying drones, many years ago on vacation at Virginia Beach, Don created his own Drone by attaching a cell phone camera  to a kite string and flying it high above the beach. He was a creative genius. We all loved Don so much. He knew everything about everything. We have a stupid family disagreement about putting leftovers in the refrigerator when they are still hot or warm. Having worked in food safety for years Karen thought they should cool off first before being put away. One day with Don present we were teasing about it and Don totally explained why it did not matter. I know this is a silly story but from that day forward we now know, because of Don, that it does not matter. We all had such faith in him and if there was a solution to your problem, Don would find it. We are going to miss you big Don. Till we meet again.

Bob



Don,

I've known you since I was about 13 years old and during that time you have ALWAYS been like a brother to me. 

I'll never forget the time I was stuck in Charlotte, NC on a business trip. No flights were getting out and of course I called Sheila for advise. Without so much as a second thought you told Sheila you were gonna drive down and pick me up. Fortunately, I was finally able to get a hotel for the night and home the next day. But that's just how you were. Willing to drop everything to help someone out. 

I lovingly remember our karaoke days of singing Summer Lovin, playing poker with you or just sitting around shooting the breeze. I've always been amazed by you!  You are one of the smartest people I know and you never made anyone feel like they were beneath you. 

Earlier this year as we were working on taxes, you and I were talking about these new paint by number pictures that were so beautiful. And without even knowing you ordered me one.  Like, who does that?  You, that's who! Unfortunately, I didnt pick it up until the day after you passed.  I've had a hard time trying to start the project because it hurts, but I will soon and I will think of you the entire time I'm doing it. 

I'm so glad i got to spend the day with you the day before your passing. It is something I will forever be thankful for. 

I love you and miss you and am honored to have know you and called you family. 

Until we meet again. 

Xoxo,
Lisa



Donny,
You will be missed! Until we meet again💔
Your friends,
Lisa and Scott Stallings 

Dad,

I love you. I miss you. I'll see you around sometime.

Until then, take it easy.



One of my favorite things about my dad was his hands.  He was a "tinkerer," as my uncle put it.  As many of you know, he loved to build things and take things apart to see how they worked.  He was very good at fixing things, I think everyday things that he had done many times would bore him, but he always loved a challenge, something he had never done before.  He helped us remodel our kitchen, change our garage door and opener, tried to figure out the electricity in our oddly wired house, and many more odds and ends.  Also by "help" I mean he did most of the work, but Jeff did learn a lot of things from him.  Any time we would complain about something in our house that wasn't working or doing something weird he would just show up with some odd tool and even a backup odd tool in case that one didn't work.

When I was looking for old pictures of my dad in the basement, I found his Led Zeppelin IV record and I had to take it home with me.  When I was taking it out of my car yesterday I just stood there and held it for a little while.  It was comforting to know it was something he had held in his hands and I pictured his hands.  Then there was a breeze and I felt a calmness and I hope that was him saying hi.

I even remember when we were waiting for the paramedics and Jeff and my mom were trying to save him, I just sat there with him holding his hand and trying to find a pulse.  Although it's something that's giving me nightmares now and it keeps playing in my head like a broken record, I know that years from now it will bring comfort to me knowing that it was my way of saying goodbye. 

I'm glad that my father's family was with him on his final day on earth.  He got to see the girls play on the tire swing that he had just built.  It will make me sad to see the girls grow up and not have him physically here with us, but I know he will be with all of us forever in our hearts.

Love you Donny.  You will be forever missed.
You are with God....❤️


You were our everything. Our electrician, mechanic, plumber, tree remover, stuffed animal surgeon, kitchen remodeler. You were our father. We will forever miss you.  

I usually only post great things but this week my cousin Sheila lost her soul mate way to early in life. Well I did not realize how much he meant to me. When I was younger he would point me in a direction sometimes good sometimes bad but usually the best for me. When I needed a ride home he would ride me in the little yellow car. When I had questions about whether or not to get married he gave me advice. Some of my best days were playing poker and hanging out. We would argue over something then he would tell me to get out of his house and when i would get up he would yell at me where do you think you are going. Then we moved in different directions he went north I went south but I regret not visiting more. As I sit here today I realize you treated me like your brother and I only hope that you knew how much you meant to me. I will truly miss you Donnie and realize how great a person can be.  Thank you for all you did in life, I am just sorry I did not tell you this in person.  Now I realize this was a post about a Great Person.

Big Don,

You spoke volumes with more than words. Your heart wrapped around those you loved with a presence we all felt. I am so lucky to have you as my father in law, and even though I talk to you differently now, nothing will ever change that. Life is messy, people are complicated, but your love for your family and friends is pure, deep, and a comfort to all of us right now. We are going to miss having you here in the way we knew you, but we know you're on the biggest adventure there is.  Just send us a postcard sometimes. Love, your daughter in law and daughter by choice, Liz.

I've known Mr. Don for most of my life.  Having been friends with Jessica at a young age, Mr. Don and Miss Sheila were like my second set of parents.  They were the "fun" parents who always included me in their family cook-outs, Ocean City vacations, O's games, and camping trips.  I think I spent an entire month at their house one summer, and they always made me feel welcome.  Mr. Don was always the first person I knew to get the latest gadgets and electronics - video games, karaoke machines, snowball makers, and telescopes.  He always had the coolest stuff.  Every 4th of July he would set off a ton of fireworks; however, it really didn't need to be a holiday for him to light fireworks.  Sometimes he'd do it just because it was fun, and the kids loved it.  I'll never forget the time he got a new riding lawnmower and let everyone have a turn driving it in the street, even the kids.  It sounds odd, but we all had a blast riding that mower around.  Mr. Don was a great dad, and I'll always be grateful to him for treating me like one of the family and including me in so many good times

Dear Sheila,
Sending you healing prayers with heartfelt sympathy and wishing you moments of peace and comfort when thinking of the memories of a beautiful life you both shared.  Don’s love will always cover you. My thoughts are with you and your family.

	
I worked with Don for the last year and a half, he will be sorely missed.  We immediately connected when we shared a mutual passion for solving mechanical and machining challenges at work, and extended to comparable  interest in climate and planetary phenomena.  This man always had a (can do attitude) and would back it up with intelligence, logic and hard work.  He carried an engaging disposition that warranted respect, and a smile that just made you feel good.  I sincerely wish that I had the good fortune to have known him longer.  I'm sure I will never forget him and I aspire to be more like him.  Don is the epitome  of the phrase: (he was a good man!)   
	Thoughts for the  family---Be proud of your Husband, Father and Son.


Baby, I love you with every breath of my being, with every cell in my body.  You will always be my Imzadi, my beloved, the first to touch my soul. I will always look at the stars at night and hope you are watching over me. I will look for satellites at night like we used to do.  We used to laugh and say we could send messages to each other telepathically. I hope you can still do that.  Sleep well my love. 

I am so sorry to hear of Don’s passing, he was a wonderful man and loved his family so much, I will miss his kindness and concern for everyone around him.  I am praying for all of his family , love, Mary


OBITUARY

Donald Patrick Reilly Sr.

3 April, 1962 – 29 July, 2018

Schimunek Funeral Home

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