Lila Lenore Reely

Lila Lenore Cullen Reely, 91, of Terre Haute, entered into the Eternal Kingdom on September 5, 2020. She was born on February 23, 1929, in Indianapolis. Lila grew up in Indianapolis, except for the WWII years when her father served as a surgeon in the U.S. Navy. During that time the family, including Lila’s brothers Paul Kent II and Peter David, lived in Great Lakes, IL and San Jose, CA. Upon graduation from Shortridge High School, Lila attended and graduated from Butler University. Her majors were vocal music and elementary education. During college, she studied music at Princeton University in Princeton, NJ in the summers. She often told the story of meeting Albert Einstein there in Veit’s Candy Store and Malt Shop where he was buying treats for the children. She met the love of her life, Donald William Reely, while in college. The two married on December 20, 1951, and moved to New Albany, IN, where she taught elementary school while D.W. finished his law degree. Two sons were born, William Kent in 1953 and Paul Scott in 1955. A daughter, Dawn Lenore, was born in 1962 and died shortly after birth due to Hyaline Membrane Disease. The family lived for a time in Terre Haute, and in 1966 moved to “their little piece of heaven in the country”, just north of Farmersburg. The majority of their vacations were spent in northern Minnesota on Pelican Lake, near Pequot Lakes, MN. During her lifetime, Lila was active in Daughters of the Nile, Mu Phi Epsilon, Alpha Chi Omega, Terre Haute Law Wives, giving piano lessons, and performing with voice and piano in various venues. As much as she enjoyed these activities, her family was always her life. She lovingly and selflessly cared for her father, mother, and husband in their last days. Her two sons were her pride and joy, and later, a daughter-in-law, Jan; and grandchildren, Sarah Lenore and William Paul. Lila is preceded in death by her father, Dr. Paul Kent Cullen; mother, Edith Mae Champion Cullen; husband, Donald W. Reely; infant daughter, Dawn Lenore; and just recently her brother, Peter D. Cullen. She is survived by sons, William Kent Reely (Jan), Paul Scott Reely; grandchildren Sarah Lenore Reely and William Paul Reely; and a brother, Paul Kent Cullen II (Diane). The family wishes to thank Southwood Nursing Home for the care and comfort given these past years to Lila. Due to the pandemic, Lila’s services will be private. She will be laid to rest next to her husband in Roselawn Memorial Park. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with Lila’s family at www.roselawnfuneralhome.net