+MARIAN BERTA WILEY+

One of our dear angels of '58 - Marian Berta Wiley - passed away on February 3, 2008. Here is the death notice from the Enquirer:
WILEY Marian Rose, nee Berta. Beloved wife of Roy Lee Wiley. Beloved mother of Daniel (Randi) Wiley, James Wiley, Lisa (Richard) Jeandron, Albert (Kristine) Wiley, David (Robin) Wiley, Vicky (Edward) Downey and the late Patrick Wiley. Loving grandmother of 13 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. Devoted sister of James Berta. Passed away Sunday February 3, 2008 residence Harrison OH formerly of New Orleans LA. age 67. Visitation in the John C. Brater Funeral Home, Harrison OH Wednesday from 5-8 PM. Mass of Christian Burial in the St. John The Baptist Church on Thursday February 7 at 10:30 AM. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Fund through the funeral home.
The rest of this information was obtained from Roy, who kindly shared some memories of Marian and their life together:
Marian was born in Cincinnati and baptized in St. George Church. When she was growing up, her dad was the chef at Mecklenburg Gardens - he even had a TV show for a while! She met her husband, Roy, when she was a student at OLA. The first time she met him, she asked him whether he liked Ricky Nelson. When he said no, she smacked him in the face. Right then and there he decided he wanted to marry such a passionate person - he proposed to her on the dance floor at Castle Farms at our Senior Prom! They were married for 46 years.
They lived outside New Orleans, close to Slidell, Louisiana near Lake Pontchartrain. Just hearing those names brings back thoughts of devastation and loss, and indeed Marian and Roy were right in the center of the storm. They had sustained winds of 140 mph with gusts of 170. Fortunately, they did not try to ride it out but took refuge in another town. Although their house survived the winds pretty well, it was damaged completely by the water surge that followed. They lost everything in Katrina, especially irreplacable things like 27 albums of pictures. Even their wedding album was taken. Roy now has one picture of their wedding day that someone has given him which he treasures - that is the picture taken in front of Our Lady's statue outside OLA.
After the hurricane, they stayed a while in Baton Rouge, until Marian said, "Let's go back home to Cincinnati." With the insurance money from Katrina, they were able to make a new start in the city in which they were both born and raised. Marian had been in ill health since the death of her son in 2001 and quietly died two years after they came back. She had a good life with her husband and children and is missed by her family and friends.
Marian, May the Angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs greet you at your arrival and lead you into the holy city, Jerusalem. May all the other Angels of '58 who have gone before us welcome you into that great reunion in heaven.