Submitted by: Dan Rich

Raymond J. Bella

Aug. 11, 1928 - July 3, 1997

South Bend Tribune 7/4/1997

Raymond J. Bella, 68, of South Bend, Ind., died at 12:15 a.m. on Thursday, July 3, in Hospice House of South Bend. Mr. Bella retired as a ceramic tile setter for Art Mosaic Tile in South Bend.

He was born on Aug. 11, 1928, in South Bend, and was a lifetime area resident.

On Aug. 2, 1952, in South Bend, he married Jean M. Schoff, who preceded him in death on Oct. 31, 1981. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Victor Bella, and by his parents, Rose (Balough) and Stephen Bella.

Mr. Bella is survived by two sons, Gerald P. (Debra) Bella and Robert V. (Candace) Bella, both of Niles, Mich.; six grandchildren, Jerry Bella, Jennifer Kulcsar, Leslie Szilagyi, Robert J. Bella, Lisa J. Bella and Julie Amparano; two sisters, Helen Buti of Niles and Emma Urgonski of South Bend; and by four brothers, Elmer Bella, Eugene Bella and Gaza Bella, all of Niles, and Steve Bella of South Bend. Mr. Bella was a member of Bricklayers of Indiana and of the National Rifle Association. He was an avid hunter.

Memorial services will be held at noon on Saturday in the Welsheimer Funeral Home North, 17033 Cleveland Road, with Rev. John Riley, C.S.C., of Christ the King Catholic Church officiating. Burial will take place at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park on Monday. Friends may call from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Joseph County, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637.