Alice D. Reilly

Alice D. Reilly, age 91 of Wilmington DE died Thursday June 11 2026, surrounded by family with a view of her beloved garden. Daughter of Oscar M. and Inez F. Dalton, Alice was born in Nashville, TN in 1935 and grew up in Gallatin, TN. She received a BA degree in chemistry from Vanderbilt University in 1956, and then joined the DuPont Company at Eastern Laboratory in Gibbstown, NJ. There, she met James I. (Jim) Reilly; they were married in 1959 and raised four children while living in several locations in the United States and England.

At age 50, Alice enrolled in nursing school and received a BS in nursing from Neumann University, Aston PA, in 1998. She dedicated her career to compassionate home-based patient care, working for Delaware Hospice for 20 years.

Alice was an avid and curious gardener, learning from garden visits in other countries, especially Great Dixter in England, always with her notebook and pen in hand. With Jim she explored the globe and enjoyed many walking tours throughout Europe. Always informed and ready to discuss the news of the day, Alice was passionate about learning. Before beginning nursing school, she was on track to earn a masters in art history from the University of Delaware. She also studied French and Italian, and for decades enjoyed the offerings at UD’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. She was an active member of the First Unitarian Church of Wilmington.

Alice is survived by her four children, Dr. Laura Reilly and her husband, Dr. David Hartley, of Kennett Square, PA, Dr. Anne Reilly and her husband, Jim Orgass, of NewCastle, ME, James Reilly and his wife, Serena Hoy, of Arlington, VA, and David Reilly and his wife, Annie Reilly, of Piedmont, CA; her grandchildren Emma and Ian Hartley, Emmett Orgass, Rosalie, Nathaniel, Owen and Quinn Reilly. In addition to her parents, Alice was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Jim Reilly, and her brother Oscar Dalton.

A memorial service will be held at Chandler Funeral Home, 2506 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE, on Thursday, June 18, with visitation at 9:30 am followed by a service at 10:30 am. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Food Bank of Delaware, 222 Lake Dr, Newark DE 19702 or North American Friends of Great Dixter, 54 Kirby Hollow Rd, Dorset VT 05251.

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Ruth Wolfe Wright writes,

So sad and shocked to hear this ! Alice was a very special person and Classmate of 1952 at Gallatin High School, Gallatin, Tennessee ! I remember her Family very well ! She will be missed by many ! May the Lord give you much strength and courage at this time ! Love ❤️ and Prayers !

06/13/2026 06:29 pm

Gracia Ratliff writes,

She was a great friend. I will miss her very very much. She was so inspirational too, Gracia.

06/14/2026 06:08 am

J. Harry & Jackie Feldman lit a candle and writes,

Anne, Laura, James and David — We join you in mourning the loss of your dear mom and our friend Alice — a deep loss to all of us at church and at OLLI. We miss her and will continue to do so, especially every time we see the lovely perennial flowers she gave us blooming in our front flower bed, as they are now. We will miss not greeting her at church and at Osher. She was a very bright light in our lives and the broader community. That light will not go out in you nor in us. Thank you for sharing her with us for all these years. J. Harry & Jackie Feldman

06/14/2026 07:07 am

Kathy Molin writes,

Anne, Laura, James and David - I am so sorry to read of Alice's passing. For year we were neighbors, our back yards touching. Your parents were so kind to us, letting my son, Andrew, take Tiger on many walks. He was thrilled to be able to walk around the block. Her gardens were beautiful. A few years ago we saw each other in the grocery store and caught up. I had no idea she was born in Nashville. I was too - we could have talked about that. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.

06/14/2026 11:51 am

Dave and Pam Krim writes,

Alice was an intelligent, thoughtful and caring person and will be fondly remembered as such.

06/15/2026 08:53 am

nancy d’orazio writes,

dear laura, anne, james and david,…your mom and i were good friends for a long time. alice was not a huggie person, but larry made a point of giving a hug when we couples met for dinner.—she like it! after jim died alice and i started meeting occasionally for a glass of wine (or two) before dinner. we talked politics, courses we were taking as “older adult students”, but mostly we shared thoughts about our families; speaking confidently in confidence. alice spoke of jim; his generosity of spirit and his thoughtfulness. she missed him very much. she was glad that laura was close by and so helpful and attentive…..proud of anne’s volunteering her medical skills where most needed…..loved cooking with james……hoped that david would appreciate his wife’s large and welcoming family.these are just a few gems from our talks. i will miss your mom. we were indeed “girl friends” love, joy, peace. nancy & larry d’orazio

06/15/2026 04:06 pm

Sheila Grant writes,

I worked with Alice many years ago when she was a hospice nurse. She was a lovely lady, so kind, caring, and calm. She was a blessing to the families she cared for and to her colleagues, as well. I always loved her beautiful turquoise earrings, and it makes me smile to see her wearing them in the picture her family posted here.

06/16/2026 08:40 am

Edward Gallagher (Wilmington Friends School) writes,

I had the distinct privilege of meeting Alice each year at Wilmington Friends when she and her daughter, Laura, hosted a luncheon to learn how their extraordinary generosity was being put into practice through the Reilly Travel Grant. This remarkable gift, established by Alice, provides teachers with opportunities for rejuvenation, professional growth, and meaningful travel experiences connected to their fields of study and teaching. Over time, I came to appreciate the depth of Alice's connection to Wilmington Friends—a relationship that spanned decades and touched multiple generations of our community. Her commitment to education, her genuine curiosity about the experiences of teachers, and her steadfast support of our mission were evident in every conversation. Having the opportunity to learn from Alice and share an annual lunch with her over the past five years has been an absolute pleasure and a true honor. She brought warmth, wisdom, and kindness to each of those gatherings, and her legacy will continue to be felt through the countless educators and students who have benefited from her generosity. Alice was a true gift to Wilmington Friends School, and she will be missed dearly. Her impact on our community will endure for many years to come.

06/16/2026 09:25 am

Tim Terranova writes,

Alice and I were neighbors and we became friends by the act of Grace. She continues to inspire me to be kind and curious. Grateful to call her my Friend. Tim

06/18/2026 06:04 am

Alison Kibler writes,

I remember meeting Alice at a plant sale in Lancaster, PA with her daughter Anne. Alice cut through any small talk. She wanted to discuss the political crisis of the moment. She knew so much more about it than I did...so I had little add. Then she showed me a plant she thought I should buy--an epimedium. I'd never heard of it before. Alice told me where she thought it should go in the garden and explained why it was a good addition to any garden. I think of her when I see it the garden. It's doing well, just as she predicted. She was a remarkable, accomplished person. All good wishes to all the Reillys.

06/18/2026 06:18 pm

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