Valerie P. Rishel, age 67, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina died Thursday June 14, 2007 from complications following a bone marrow transplant she had received as a treatment for leukemia. She had been battling leukemia since November 2004. Ms. Rishel was born November 17, 1939 in Glen Richey, PA to Carl Emil Peterson and Delphine Francis Balum Peterson (Cowdrick), both now deceased.
Ms. Rishel was educated in the Clearfield Area School System, Clearfield PA and also graduated from Loch Haven State Teachers College, Loch Haven PA, with a B.S. in Elementary Education. During her education at Loch Haven, Ms. Rishel joined and was a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority. Following graduation, Ms. Rishel returned to Clearfield where she taught two generations of students in the Clearfield school system. Ms. Rishel received her permanent teaching certificate from Penn State University. As a teacher in Clearfield, Ms. Rishel taught grade 5 at Third Ward School, grade 4 at Plymptonville School and grade 3 at Hyde and Centre schools, after which she retired from teaching in 1996. During her teaching career, Ms. Rishel belonged to the CEA, PSEA, NEA and the Retired Teachers Association.
Ms. Rishel was a former member of the Clearfield YMCA board and was also a member and past president of the Clearfield Swimming Pool Association. Ms. Rishel was an avid sports fan, played golf and was a former member of the Clearfield/Curwensville Country Club. Other organizations that received her support were C.A.S.T. community theatre, the Community Concert Association, the Joseph and Elizabeth Shaw Public Library and the Clearfield Hospital.
Ms. Rishel relocated to Chapel Hill after her retirement. While in Chapel Hill, she became a volunteer at University of North Carolina Hospital and worked for 3 years in patient relations. She was also employed in the Environmental Protection Agency library, which was managed by the UNC School of Information and Library Science. While in Chapel Hill, Ms. Rishel attended the Binkley Baptist Church, but remained a member of the United Presbyterian Church in Clearfield.
Ms. Rishel is survived by her sons, Mr. Robert Michael of Yorktown, NY and Cdr. David Randall, USN, of Yardley, PA. She also has four grandchildren; Messrs. Timothy Blake, Kevin Troy and Henry Jackson (Jack) Rishel and one granddaughter, Miss Arlene Alexandra (Alex) Rishel. Ms. Rishel is also survived by her sister Ms. Linda Peterson of The Villages, FL and aunts Mrs. Aurelia B. Fritz of Montgomery, PA and Mrs. Ruby Balum of Muncy, PA. and their families. Ms. Rishel is also survived by two nieces, Ms. Kim H. Siebler of Chandler, AZ and Ms. Tracy H. Peterson of Lancaster, CA.
Visitation services for Ms. Rishel will be held at the Beardsley Funeral Home in Clearfield, PA on Friday June 22 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. A memorial service will be held in the United Presbyterian Church on Saturday, June 23 at 11:30 AM. Friends are invited to come to the church for family visitation Saturday from 10:00 AM until the time of service.
Following the memorial service, Ms. Rishel’s ashes will be interned at Crown Crest Memorial Cemetery. Services will also be held in Chapel Hill, NC at the Binkley Baptist Church on Tuesday June 26 at 4:00 PM and will be followed by light refreshments and family visitation. The family suggests memorial contributions to the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, CB #7295, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7295.
Local arrangements by the Cremation Society of the Carolinas. Online condolences to www.cremnc.com.
I am so sorry for your loss of Valerie and the pain you must all be going through, but please I really need some advice. My husband is 67yrs old and today he has been given a choice of having a bone marrow transplant or to carry on just having blood transfusions. They have told him that he will be very ill for a year if he has the bone marrow transplant and it may not work, or to be healthy now and just have his top up blood every month until it does not work anymore. I have looked on the internet and cannot find anyone who has survied this treatment over the age of 67. As a family you know what it is like and i would be so grateful for your views regarding this very sad and painful choice.