Elaine Stromberg O’Reilly
October 03, 1925 - December 14, 2020
- Share:
Elaine Stromberg O’Reilly
October 03, 1925 - December 14, 2020
Obituary
Elaine Stromberg O’Reilly
October 3, 1925 – December 14, 2020
Elaine O’Reilly, aged 95, passed away peacefully on December 14, 2020, after a brief illness. She was born in Walnut Park, CA on October 3, 1925 to Oscar T. Stromberg and Freda Bergstrom Stromberg. She had one sibling, her beloved sister, Nadine.
Elaine’s family moved to Ogden, Utah in the spring of 1926. Ten years later, the family moved to Nampa, Idaho, where they bought a ten acre farm. Elaine spoke fondly of her time on the farm, caring for the animals and a sizeable orchard. She had many happy memories of her childhood.
Elaine and Nadine attended Midway School, where they starred on the softball team. Elaine graduated in May 1943. She attended Brigham Young University for one year. Her last day at BYU was June 6, 1944 – D-Day. Elaine wanted to do something for the war effort, so she took a job at Hill Field, where work crews were assigned to “pickle” the engines of the brand new B-24 Liberator bombers, to be stored in the desert until they were needed in battle.
After the war, Mom trained as an x-ray technician, a job that would take her to New York, Massachusetts, and eventually to Southern California, where she met her future husband, Michael O’Reilly, at a Catholic dance. They were married on June 27, 1956 and had two children: John and Theresa. Michael passed away on April 29, 1986. Eventually Elaine moved to Irvine, California, where she was active in the church’s senior group and made many dear friends.
Family was of tremendous importance to Elaine, and she cherished the time she spent with her sister, cousins, children and grandchildren.
Elaine was a talented artist, self-taught. She specialized in oil paintings, and many of her works of art grace the homes of friends and family members. She loved to travel and made several trips to Europe and Hawaii, and even traveled to Taiwan. Elaine was an avid reader and loved a good mystery. She was kind, caring, and compassionate. She had a special affinity for animals and spent her final years in the company of her faithful Chihuahua, Sammy.
She is preceded in death by her husband of thirty years: Michael O’Reilly. She is survived by her two children: John (Rita) O’Reilly and Theresa (Bruce) Schultz, and her three grandchildren: Katie, Brian, and Eric Schultz, as well as many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.
A service will be held on Dec. 23, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Resurrection Cemetery, 966 North Potrero Grande Drive, Rosemead, California.
No Events & Services
No Charities & Donations
19 responses to Elaine Stromberg O’Reilly
John and Shane Mc Laughlin says:
December 20, 2020
We were so sorry to hear about Elaine’s death. We spent some time as a family with her in California and everyone loved her. May she rest in peace.
Mitzi Minerman says:
December 20, 2020
Mike and I met Elaine in 1997 when we moved in next door. She was the first person to welcome us to the neighborhood and introduce us to the Schultz family. I have fond memories of her being the first person outside of immediate family to welcome each of our three daughters into the world. I will never forget running into Elaine and Georgie on walks with my babies; I was a stressed out young mother and they told me to cherish these days and how it seemed like yesterday that each of them were young mothers. Now my girls are much older, I think back to those words, as the time went so quickly and miss both having young children and running into Elaine and Georgie. We were so fortunate to visit with Elaine and was graciously included in family celebrations. Her granddaughter Katie Schultz is like an older sister to our girls. Elaine never minded all the noise coming from next door, and our house was loud, especially because the girls were opera singers. As luck would have it, Elaine loved opera and attended a few of the girls performances. You will be greatly missed. We love you and wish you and your family peace until we meet again.
Coralyn McGregor says:
December 21, 2020
Elaine was my mother’s first cousin and”‘way beyond mere cousinship”she was our family’s dear friend. She helped us through trying times.
I met Elaine and her sister Nadine when I was 4 years old. Although of my mother’s generation, Nadine and Elaine were young girls then, not many years older than I. On that long-ago occasion, they gave me a little green toy car (not a doll!), and thereby won my heart forever. Then, it was thanks with laughter; now it is thanks with tears. My love, dear friend and cousin.
Lisa Yip says:
December 21, 2020
I met Elaine when her daughter Theresa married my brother Bruce, and have felt so fortunate to have known her these many years. Elaine was the kind of person who inspired other people to be better. She was kind and big-hearted, a woman who made the most of life, not retreating as she got older, but continuing to embrace life through music, art, travel and her relationships with family and friends. I loved the way she always said goodbye, whether on the phone or from the front door, it was always “Bye now.” So Elaine, “bye now” – we love you and miss you.
Francesca Peace says:
December 22, 2020
May you Rest In Peace Elaine, it was a blessing to know you. I trust we will meet again someday. You brought so much love and kindness to all who nines you. My thoughts and prayers to your children, grandchildren and those who were near to you for peace and comfort through this time of mourning.
With love Francesca & Mike Peace