Margaret Helen Relles

Margaret was born March 18th, 1917 in New Castle, Indiana, to parents Charles Ross and Grace Smith. Margaret died August 23rd, 2014 in Sacramento, CA. Her mother died when she was a little over 2 years old and her brother, Robert was 11 months old. She was raised by her Aunt Laura Bowld and Uncle William Bowld. Her brother was raised by Aunt Clara Ott and Uncle Allen Ott in the same town, Syracuse, Indiana where they grew up. Margaret met her husband Ross Relles at Arizona Teacher College (now Arizona State University). They were married December 10th, 1938 in Globe, Arizona. They got married secretly because Margaret was a teacher and a woman teacher could not be married before World War II. Ross and Margaret moved to Sacramento after college and then in 1946 they opened Relles Florist. She was preceded in death by her husband Ross and her brother Robert, and when her husband died in 1972, Margaret became President of Relles Florist. Margaret is survived by her loving children and grandchildren: Ross W. (Lynne) and their children Meggi Hunt (Peter) and Ross III (Carrie); Robert Thomas (Jill) and their son, Spencer (Melissa); James C. (Marilyn) and their children Alicia, Colby and Haley, JoAnn Bradley (Gary) and children Richard Ficarelli (Kim), Joe Ficarelli, Alex and Elizabeth Bradley; Ronald S. (Melinda) and their daughters Holly Balkow (Patrick), Lindsey Relles-Summerhays (Josh). She was also very proud of her 12 great-grandchildren and 3 great great-grandchildren. She is also lovingly survived by her cousin, William F. Bowld, and many nieces and nephews, sisters-in-laws and brother-in-law, and many dear friends. She was a kind, loving and generous woman who was loved by all! Her love of family and friends extended to her home. She was a second Mother and Grandmother to many. She cooked a family dinner almost every Sunday night where anyone, including extended family members and friends as well, was invited. She was famous for her spaghetti and meat balls (a recipe she learned from her Italian mother-in-law). Margaret was not Italian but learned to love everything Italian. Growing up, the Relles household was the place to go at any time where the refrigerator was always full, pool table, music, friendly conversation and even a place to sleep were always available. She loved to travel with her husband and family to sporting events, florist events, graduations, performances, graduations for family or friends. Besides being busy with her family, Margaret was very active in the community: she belonged to the Tuesday Club, Romulus Club (Past President), Dante Club Auxiliary (Past President), Arberesh of Sacramento, Sons of Italy, Italian Cultural Society, Mercy Guild, Soroptimist International of Sacramento, ASU Alumni Association, and American Association of University Women. She was a long time and charter member of Parkside Community Church where she was on many committees and groups. She loved playing the piano and for many years played the piano for the Italian dancers, Balliamo and the Dante Club singers. We also all looked forward to singing along as Margaret played Christmas carols every Christmas Eve for the entire family which numbered 90-100 at times. Friends and family were invited to attend a Memorial Celebration of Life at Parkside Community Church, 5700 S. Land Park Drive, Sacramento, at 11:00am, Saturday, August 30, 2014. Thank you, Vika, Riti and Sera, Margaret's caregivers and all the help of Mercy Hospice nurses, doctors, home health care givers, and volunteers. You gave such loving and excellent care to Margaret in her last years; the family could not have cared for her without you. Margaret will dearly be missed by all of her family and everyone that knew her. She was and will continue to be the guiding light in our lives and be remembered for her kind and loving heart.