October 6, 1936 - February 17, 2023
Reidun B. (Pedersen) Villella passed away at home in Columbus, February 17, 2023, with her husband, Jim Villella and daughter, Kimberly DiLuzio at her side.
The daughter of Jacob and Randi Pedersen, Reidun was born October 6, 1936, at Stavanger, Norway, and immigrated to Erie, Pennsylvania, at age 14 with her parents, sister Ruth and brother Rolf. She is survived by her brother, his wife Dorothy, niece Stacey and nephews Christopher and Matthew Pedersen.
Reidun had six children, sons John, Kevin, Keith and Eric; daughters Kimberly and Victoria DiLuzio and two stepsons, James and Jeffrey Villella. Keith and his wife Rebecca preceded her in death in September 2021.
After marrying Nicholas J. (Jim) Villella November 30, 1985, at Hiwan Homestead, Colorado, they moved from Erie to Columbus where she was a nanny for Craig and Rebecca Howells' son, Van Alan, and for his sister (and her Goddaughter) Sumner Rose.
As well as Van and Sumner Howells, she also cared for Jimmy, Katie, Danny, Matthew and her Goddaughter Bella, children of Dr. Mark and Sandy Lomeo. She kept them safe and amused with pizza parties, games and visits to the pool.
When an active member of the Scandinavian Club of Columbus, she became the "adopted" American mom and dear friend of Grete Davidsen and her husband Ed Kidwell.
Reidun visited Norway with her young children, and later enjoyed traveling with daughter Kimberly to Norway, visiting daughter Victoria in Phoenix, camping tours in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia, and trips with hostel stays in San Francisco. During a 1998 visit to Seattle with Cousin Elsa Sunde, her husband Carl and daughter Esther, she climbed Mount Saint Helens after its major eruption.
Memorial remembrances can be made in Reidun's name to Doctors Without Borders USA, PO Box 5030, Hagerstown, MD, 21741-5030, or online at https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/get-involved/ways-to-give