Maribell Dehner

Maribell Dehner, 73, died peacefully Sunday at Reid Memorial Hospital, after a brief illness compounded by other health problems. She spent the last moments of her life in the presence of her family, where she was most happy. A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, as well as a faithful Catholic, relentless peace-seeker, proud Democrat, avid reader, lifelong bridge player, adventurous traveler, dedicated Cardinals fan and unabashed lover of competitive trivia, Maribell devoted herself to the comfort and support of all of those lucky enough to find their way into her life. Born Mary Isabel on June 28, 1935, in Alexandria, Indiana, the fourth of six children of Herb and Angela Wheatley, she grew up in Elwood, Indiana, where she graduated from Willke High School in 1953. She completed her training at Holy Cross Central Nursing School in Kokomo and South Bend in 1956, and on Dec. 28, 1957, she began her marriage of more than 51 years to John Dehner, her high school sweetheart whom she first met at a picnic in 1948. While John completed his military service and pursued his medical training, the young couple lived in Indianapolis, Minneapolis and Hampton, Virginia. They settled in Richmond, Indiana, in 1966, where they have lived ever since, with the exception of a one-year hiatus for further medical training in Tucson, Arizona, in 1975. She especially enjoyed spending time with family and friends in northern Michigan. Maribell was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and was active in a number of other community organizations including Tourist Club, Magazine Club and Tuesday Aftermath. She was an enthusiastic member of two Bridge Clubs, one of which has met continuously for nearly 50 years. She is survived by her husband, John; daughters Jennifer (Jeff) Cox, of Dayton, and Mary (John) Carpenter of Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan; sons, John (Amber) Dehner of Bloomington and Thomas (Carol Mallory) of Boston; 11 beautiful grandchildren, Abby, Grace, Jack, Thomas, Patrick, Sally, Ezra, Owen, Tobias, Isabel and Theo; brothers, Robert (Joan) Wheatley of Winfield, Illinois, Jack (Karin) Wheatley, of Oslo, Norway; and sister, Carol Mattingly of Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents, Herb and Angela Wheatley, and her sisters, Dorothy and Judy (Thomas) Donahue. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, February 11, 2009, at Doan & Mills Funeral Home, 790 National Road West, Richmond. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 710 North A St., Thursday, February 12, 2009, at 10 a.m. Burial will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Mary's Catholic Church, 240 South 6th St., Richmond, IN 47374, or Reid Hospital Foundation, 1100 Reid Parkway, Richmond, IN 47374, or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Indiana Chapter, 8440 Woodfield Crossing Blvd., Suite 201,Indianapolis, IN 46240.

Maribell Dehner

June 28, 1935 - February 8, 2009