Estela L. Reidy

COLUMBIA—Estela L. Reidy, 90, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 at Generations of Irmo.The funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, February 19, 2017 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 525 St. Andrews Road, Columbia, SC 29210 with Reverend Gary Loadholdt officiating.Burial will follow at Bush River Memorial Gardens.The family will receive friends on Saturday, February 18, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at Temples Halloran Funeral Home, 5400 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC 29212. Born November 10, 1926 in Manila, Philippines, she was the daughter of the late Pedro Lorenzo and Ines Arellano Lorenzo. At the age of 15, Estela’s studies were interrupted by the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in WWII. At the liberation of the Philippines she met her late husband, Ralph Albert Reidy, a U.S. Army soldier, who was repairing communication lines on her street. It took Ralph a year to convince Estela’s father to allow him to see her. Their courtship revolved around a mutual love for the piano. Ralph taught Estela jazz tunes and she taught him classical pieces. They married in 1946, and raised their family at Clark Air Base in the Philippines. Estela and Ralph were active members of the Leonard Wood Masonic Lodge and the Mt. Arayat Chapter of the Eastern Star in the Philippines. In 1984 they retired to Columbia, SC and became members of Redeemer Lutheran Church whereEstela was a member of the Naomi Circle. They were active volunteers at Sharing God’s Love in Irmo, and Meals on Wheels in Columbia. They affiliated with the St. Andrews Chapter of The Order of the Eastern Star where they served as Worthy Patron and Matron from 1990-1991. After her husband died, Estela served again as Worthy Matron from 1994-1995. For many years she served as Chapter Organist, and played for other Eastern Star Chapters throughout the district. Estela enjoyed attending exercise classes at Seven Oaks Community Center. She and her husband lived an active life, playing tennis and racquetball, even participating in the Senior Olympics. But her favorite pastime remained playing the piano, even in recent years. Surviving are her three daughters, Alma J. Schultz (Wallace) of Columbia, Christine R. Corcoran (Paul) of Cold Spring Harbor, NY and Cheryl L. Pierce (Ron) of Tega Cay, SC; two sons, Richard A. Reidy (Beverly) of Hauula, Hawaii and Charles A. Reidy (Cindy) of Vancouver, WA; 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Those who have preceded her in death are her parents, her late husband, Ralph Albert Reidy, their first son, Peter Reidy and her brother, Conrad Lorenzo. The family thanks the staff at Generations of Irmo, Dr. Prexa Naik and staff at PH Senior Primary Care, and the PH Hospice Staff. Memorials can be sent to Redeemer Lutheran Church, 525 St. Andrews Road, Columbia, SC 29210.