Louise Marie Bell passed away in Gardnerville, Nevada on October 8, 2024 at the age of 95
from congestive heart failure. A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Louise was admired by many for her wise counsel.
Louise was born in Los Angeles at Queen of Angels Hospital on September 24, 1929 to parents Victor and Josephine Borstner. Louise was an active, intelligent, musically inclined girl who grew up in a Depression Era home filled with various relatives from her extended family.
Louise was awarded the General Excellence medal upon her graduation from Catholic Girls
High School, and went on to earn her BA and teaching credential from Immaculate Heart
College in Los Angeles. Marriage to her childhood and high school sweetheart, Joseph
Skelley, soon followed in 1953. They settled in Torrance, California and raised their four children (Joseph, Patrick, Lynn, and Ann). Joe and Louise were active in their parish, St. Anthony of Padua, and enjoyed close relationships with their many relatives, friends, and neighbors.
A few years after being widowed at age 49, Louise married fellow parishioner Richard Bell
in early 1983. The newlyweds soon established homes in both Palm Desert, California and
Incline Village, Nevada. They maintained an active lifestyle, playing tennis and golf,
participating in local church and community events, and traveling extensively. Once the
semi-annual move from California to Nevada became too burdensome, Rich and Louise
decided to make Genoa, Nevada their permanent home.
Louise was active in the community. She was co-founder of the Genoa Women’s Golf
Club. She was an active member of the University Women’s Club of Carson Valley and she
attended their associated Book Club and Scholarship meetings. She was known for being
diplomatic, tactful, and respectful in her endeavors.
Louise is survived by her children Patrick (Deborah), Lynn (Jack), and Ann (Salvatore) and
step-children Diane (Wayne), Brian, and Scott (Andrea). She and Richard had fourteen
grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. Louise was preceded in death by her first
husband Joseph (1979), her son Joseph (2013), and her second husband Richard (2024).
A Funeral Mass with Reception following will be held on Tuesday, December 17 at 11:00 a.m.
at St. Gall Catholic Church,1343 Centerville Lane, Gardnerville.