Born in Altoona, PA on May 19, 1920
Departed on February 17, 2016 and resided in Nashville, TN
Visitation: Bellevue United Methodist ChurchSaturday March 12, 2016 10:00am to 11:00amCelebration of Life Service: Bellevue United Methodist ChurchSaturday March 12, 2016 11:00am
Rosella May Corbin DeRiemer passed away February 17, 2016 at the age of 95. She was born May 19, 1920 to Edgar A. and Madeline (Neff) Corbin in Altoona, PA. She graduated Altoona HS, received a B.S. degree, Cum Laude from Loch Haven State Teachers College, and an M.A. from California State University, Long Beach. Her essay, "I Look Forward to Teaching", was published in the Peabody Journal of Education and she devoted her life to that vocation. From 1948-53 she taught in Dept. of Defense schools in Japan and Germany. She wrote the Kindergarten curriculum for the entire Far East Command. On August 9, 1953 she married Albert True DeRiemer her UCLA sweetheart. They shared their lives, laughter, and love until his death in 2001. Rosella and Al returned to Japan in 1955 where she taught at Nishimachi International School. The family, including two children, returned to California where Rosella taught Kindergarten for the Long Beach Unified School District for 43 years. At the age of 70, she joined the Peace Corps and taught in the South Pacific Kingdom of Tonga. She inspired thousands of students over her career. She volunteered with AFS International/Intercultural Programs as a host Mom, District Representative, orientation leader, and a counselor. She has AFS sons, daughters and grandchildren on six continents who also mourn her passing. She served as President of the Pan American Association of Lakewood, CA, a civic organization promoting international understanding, and funded a Pan American scholarship for students who had faced adversity. In 1996 she attended the World Federation of Methodist Women Conference in Brazil as a Lay Leader for First Lakewood UMC. In 1999, she was recognized as one of the City of Lakewood's "45 Every Day Heroes" for her volunteer contributions. In 2006, she moved to Nashville to head a four-generation household and to keep the Bellevue post office busy. She was a member of P.E.O. Chapter E in Nashville and strongly supported of the P.E.O. goal of educating women. She was a member of the Bellevue United Methodist Church where she was active in Keenagers, UMW, and Sunday School. Her faith and family were constant sources of strength and comfort. She was preceded in death by her parents, stepmother Miriam Corbin, sisters Nelda Corbin & Madeline Wagner, brothers Robert, Edgar & Corrin Corbin, and husband Albert DeRiemer. She is survived by sister Wenda Clouser, children William Scott (Cheree) and Susan DeRiemer, grandchildren Adrienne (John) Wodkowski, Darian, Katharine, and Leah DeRiemer, and great-grandchildren Michael, Kaitlyn and Reagan Wodkowski, and Lillie DeRiemer-Riley. A celebration of her life will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, March 12, 2016 at the Bellevue United Methodist Church preceded by visitation at 10:00. Interment will be at the Middle Tennessee Veteran's Cemetery. The family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be directed to the Pan American Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1186, Lakewood, CA 90714 or Bellevue United Methodist Church, 7501 Old Harding Pike, Nashville, TN 37221.
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