Dee C. Wheatley

March 10, 1932 – June 17, 2026

Our dear, sweet, loving mom and matriarch of our family passed away peacefully on June 17. We are so blessed to have her in our lives as long as we did and she was fully aware how much she was loved by her family. Words cannot express the amount of love we have for her. Mom passed away peacefully into Jesus’ arms and has gone to God’s heavenly kingdom to join her our sweet dad who surely was there waiting to take the hand of the love of his life and escort her into heaven. It is comforting to know that she had many, many loved ones waiting to greet her with love in heaven.

Mom was a faithful servant of God and devout Christian. She was pure sweetness and dedicated her life to her family. She loved all, had the biggest heart, and enjoyed feeding her loved ones.

She was born on March 10, 1932, to Italian parents of an arranged marriage. Her grandparents were Italian immigrants that came to the United States through Ellis Island in the early 1900’s. She was the firstborn child and grandchild, and grew up working next to her grandmother, Maria Adornetto, in their Italian restaurant in Zanesville Ohio. There she discovered her passion for cooking from the best teacher in the world, working side by side with her grandmother, Maria Adornetto and with her mother, JoAnn Wheatley, who was a self-taught gourmet cook. She has passed down the recipe for her Grandma’s Italian meatballs. Mom loved cooking amazing meals for her family and special requests for their birthdays.

She married the love of her life, Charles Wheatley, in an intimate wedding on December 27, 1948, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in San Antonio. They settled in Houston and lovingly raised their two daughters, JoAnn and Tina Marie, in a tiny three-bedroom, one-bathroom house, on Berry Creek.

She was loved by all that met her (especially babies) and adored by her family. She had the most beautiful smile that would light up the room especially when talking about her grandkids, Cole, Jack and Casey.

She enjoyed visiting with her son-in-laws, Reid and Dennis. Their sense of humor kept her entertained. What she loved most was how they took such good care of her girls and their families.

Our mom had a green thumb and enjoyed working in her garden and watching plants grow. Sometimes she and her friends would take a “pinch” of something just to watch it grow. Her yard was beautiful, lush and green. She took much pride in it.

She had a lifelong love for sweets, candies, coca cola and a tasty Whataburger. She never turned down chocolate truffles or a Hershey bar.

We did our best completing her circle of love, the circle that she began with us. Tenderly loving and taking care of her, making the final days memorable for her and all of us.

She will be buried next to our loving dad who passed away in 1997. We know how much she missed him. Joining them is her sweet puppy, Trixie, finally reunited with her momma.

Bella Bella Momma!! We will love you always. Thank you for your lifelong, unconditional love. You will definitely be missed and your legacy lives on.

Honoring our lovely Mom as Pallbearers are her sons-in-law Reid Colley and Dennis Scheetz, grandsons Cole Colley, Jack Scheetz and Casey Colley, and Mark Phillips whom she always thought of as a son. They made her day very special and know she would love it.

Special thanks to Pam with Lotus Hospice and Dr. Zac Smith. They took care of her as their own and kept her very comfortable. We are also very appreciative of Emily, Rachel, Becky and Sylvia from Bedford Residence Assisted Living for lovingly taking care of our mom.