Gloria E. Risley

RISLEY,GLORIA E. Age 80, passed away peacefully at her home after a long illness in Harrison Township, MI surrounded by her family on November 24, 2014. Gloria was born in Detroit on May 17, 1934, daughter of the late Theodore and Elsa (Sniesak) Witkowski. She helped to raise her brother Teddy while her parents worked. She graduated from Mt. Clemens HS where she met and then married the love of her life Charles Risley. They wed at St. Louis Catholic Church on July 16, 1955. Together they traveled extensively overseas, living in Turkey and Italy and gave birth to her youngest daughter, Carrie, in Rome. They then moved to Slidell, Louisiana, for eight years before moving back to Michigan returning to the home on Lake St. Clair that they bought when they wed in 1955 and remodeled it. Gloria worked 17 years for St. Joseph Hospital as a receptionist, was a member of the ladies auxiliary and was trained to provide hospice care. She then cared for her grandmother and her parents in her home until their death. Gloria loved to garden, go to the casino, and play bridge with their card club of close friends. She was a great story teller of the many hurricanes’ the family lived through, and the kidnapping and rescue of her husband, as well as all their travel stories.

Gloria is survived by her devoted and loving husband and caregiver of almost 60 years, Charles Risley; three children Cynthia (William A. III) Bechill, Lawrence (Debra) Risley, and Carrie (Dave) Conklin; ten Grandchildren Suzanne (Aaron) Hickman, Lynn (Brian) Dujardin, Shannon (Steve) Lyons, Erin Bechill, William (Laura) Bechill IV, Michael, Ashley, Kristina, and Kimberly Risley, and David Conklin, Jr.; and ten Great Grandchildren: Kyle and Brandon Maxson, Andrew, Lauren, and Kaitlin Kerr, Adam Hickman, Kyleigh and Alaina Dujardin, Paul and Billy (V) Bechill; a brother Theodore Witkowski; brother/sister in-laws Robert (Cindy) Risley and David (Debbie) Risley all of Florida, Marilyn Risley of PA, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends of the bridge club. She was assisted the last few years by her loving family, and by caring companions Nancy, Stacy, and Katie.

Besides her parents, Theodore and Elsa Witkowski, she was predeceased by her sister-n-law Judith Witkowski.

Visitation will be held at Resurrection Funeral Home, 40800 Hayes

Rd, Clinton Twp, MI 48038 on Sunday, November 30, 2014 from 2p-9p.

The Funeral Service will be held at the funeral home on Mondayy,

December 1, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. with Father David Bechill, presiding. Burial

will take place immediately following at, Resurrection Cemetery, 18201

Clinton River Road, Clinton Twp, MI 48038.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the MS Society or American Heart Association.