Willetta Rissell

Willetta "Willie" Riley Rissell, age 94, passed away on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at the Goodwill Retirement Community in Grantsville, Maryland, where she resided since November 2016.

Willie, the only child of Willett M. and Martha J. (Peterman) Riley, was born on April 5,1931 in Cleveland, Ohio. After graduating from Shaker Heights High School, Willie was awarded a full scholarship to the University of Rochester (U of R).

Willie excelled academically, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Class of 1953), graduating with honors through the Division of Honor Studies. Freshman year, Willie lived in Carnegie Dorm in a suite with seven other women. They were a close knit group and referred to themselves as the "Octupi". Together they participated in class camps and rivalry activities between the Freshman and Sophomore classes. During her sophomore year, Willie pledged the Alpha Sigma sorority and was elected to the Class Board, where she served as the Publicity Director. In this capacity she was active in organizing dances and other social events. During her senior year, the Class Board helped lay the foundation for the merger of the women's and men's colleges. The Board helped form the Student Affairs Forum and sponsored "Showboat Jamboree", the first coed theatrical production. Additionally, Willie performed with the Aquatic Princesses, U of R's aquatic ballet troupe. 

Willie continued her education at the University of Pennsylvania School of Allied Medical Studies where she obtained a Certificate in Occupational Therapy, the institution's highest academic award in the field. After passing the qualifying exam, Willie worked at the Delaware Curative Workshop (DCW) in Wilmington, Delaware. The DCW was founded by the Junior League of Wilmington in 1945 in response to the polio epidemic and the influx of injured World War II veterans.

Willie met Ted Rissell in Wilmington and they were married in April 1959. The couple moved several times because of Ted's work assignments, eventually settling in LaVale, Maryland in 1961. Here they raised their children, Kevin and Kathy.

Willie was the first licensed occupational therapist in Allegany County and spent much of her career at Lions Manor Nursing Home. Also, a published author, Willie wrote the book Craftwork the Handicapped Elderly Can Make and Sell. 

Willie enjoyed the creative arts and actively supported Garrett Lake Arts Council (GLAF) and other community art organizations. She began playing the clarinet in junior high school and maintained her love of the instrument throughout her life. After moving to Garrett County, Willie joined the newly formed Garrett Community Concert Band, serving as the administrator who formed the organization's Board of Directors. Willie played with the Band for many years and considered it one of her favorite activities.

Like her father, Willie dabbled in many creative endeavors, such as silversmithing, oil painting, and flower drying and arranging. Willie was a long-time member of the Lavale Century Club and she enjoyed creating crafts for their annual Christmas Caravan of Homes.

Again following in her father's footsteps, Willie discovered her artistic calling when she took up stained glass and eventually became a master-class stained glass artist skilled in multiple techniques including traditional fitting with copper foil and lead came, and custom slumping and fusing. Her pieces showcase both her eye for selecting and positioning glass, and meticulous craftsmanship. Willie taught stained glass classes at Allegany Community College, demonstrated techniques at her shop in the Spruce Forest Village in Grantsville, and showcased her work at the Garrett County Arts Council Gallery in Oakland.

The Rissell family joined the Deep Creek Lake Sailing Association (Turkey Neck Yacht Club) in 1967 and the Yacht Club became an integral part of their lives. The family camped for three summers at the Western Maryland Campground before trading in canvas for a roof, building a small cottage in the Back Bay community to be closer to the Yacht Club. The family enjoyed summers and weekends at the cottage and welcomed friends and family to spend time skiing and sailing. Ted and Willie enlarged the cottage in 1984 and retired to Garrett County two years later. Willie cherished the friends she made at Yacht Club and frequently reflected on the positive impact it had on her family. 

For several years Willie crewed for Ted during the weekly sailboat races, but happily "abandoned ship" when Kevin could take her place. Willie participated in social events at the club and hosted many parties there. She started Hardy Souls, the monthly off-season gathering of Yacht Club members who lived in Garrett County all year.

Willie designed and created a large stained glass window of a compass rose that features the Turkey Neck Yacht Club's burgee in its center. The window is her lasting contribution to her beloved club and has "pride of place" in the apex of the roof on the west side of the pavilion. In the evening, the setting sun shines through the window, casting the window's colors onto the pavilion floor.

Willie enjoyed birds and wildflowers, and meticulously recorded their arrival each year. She attracted dozens of hummingbirds to her feeders and cultivated a bay window of african violets in all sizes and colors. She belonged to the LaVale and Mountain Laurel garden clubs.

Willie's love of travel began as a teenager when her family traveled out west to visit some spectacular national parks. Willie kept a detailed journal of the trip, a habit she continued throughout her life on the numerous trips she took with Ted. She and Ted enjoyed Elderhostel tours, visiting sites across the United States and on all seven continents. They also enjoyed a number of adventures in 30 or 40 ft sailboats to the Caribbean and other protected waters. When travelling became more difficult they spent winters in Florida with their many Yacht Club friends.

Willie is survived by her husband Ted at the Goodwill Retirement Community in Grantsville, son Kevin Rissell (Stephanie Hawtof) of Oakland, daughter Kathy Rubel (Dan) of Glenshaw, Pennsylvania, and grandchildren Beth Rubel of Madison, Wisconsin and David Rubel of Newark, Delaware.

According to her wishes, Willie will be cremated and no service will be held. A Celebration of Life will take place at the Turkey Neck Yacht Club on Sunday, May 31, at 4:00pm. All are welcome to attend. If you have a memory or picture you would like to share, please email it to kevinrissell@gmail.com.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Garrett Community Concert Band or Garrett County Habitat for Humanity.