Apollonia “Bella” (Silecchia) Reber – The Coastland Times

Apollonia “Bella” (Silecchia) Reber of Kitty Hawk, NC, passed away peacefully on December 8, 2022 surrounded by her loved ones.

Bella was born in 1937 in Brooklyn, NY. NYC was her home until her family moved to Amityville, Long Island to open their family business. Bella is a graduate of Amityville High School and a proud graduate of the Brooklyn School of Nursing, where she met her husband, Javan “Jay” Reber. In 1960 they moved to Long Island, NY, where they began their family life and both worked as Registered Nurses.

As a nurse, Bella especially loved her time in the ER. She enjoyed talking to her patients, finding out their needs and helping them. She loved to sing, often off-key, but put her heart into it. She enjoyed trips to the beach, traveling and attending family gatherings both near and far. Radiant like the star that she was, Bella starred in several local productions of musicals and comedies.

Bella loved volunteering her entire life, serving as Brownie Leader, Treasurer of Boy Scout Troop 67, Carlisle NY, Captain of the Carlisle Fire Department Rescue Squad, member of the Women’s Auxiliary Crew, and member of the Red Hat Chapter Chapeau Rouge. Bella has also been an older adult representative on GEM, SHIPP and the Dare County Older Adult Advisory Council.

Bella always found strength in her Lord and Savior. In 2017 she finally fulfilled her dream of doing missionary work abroad in Bulgaria with the Ocean View Baptist Church. Bella cherished her family, her small groups at Liberty Christian Fellowship, and was devoted to her friends, all of whom will be greatly missed.

Bella was died by her parents John and Raffaela Silecchia, her beloved husband of 48 years Jay Reber and older sister Jenny Occhiogrosso. Bella is survived by her four children, daughter Margaret Dennis (Neal) of Kill Devil Hills, NC; Maria Debraccio of Kitty Hawk, NC, Richard Reber (Jennifer) of Wake Forest, NC and John Reber (Claire), Orlando, Florida. Her five grandchildren (Beth, Ericka, Tyler, Jennifer and Jayden) and three great-grandchildren (Emily, Payten and Tanner) and several nieces and nephews, their spouses and partners.

In accordance with her wishes, Bella didn’t want to make a fuss or a memorial service. On Sunday, December 18, 2022, at the Liberty Christian Fellowship, 244 Williams, Dr. A memorial service was held in Colington.

We encourage those who wish to honor Mama’s memory to make donations to the new Camp Emmanuel Family Life Center or online at: www.libertyobx.com/give/give-online.

READ MORE OBITUATIONS HERE.

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