February 10, 1929 – November 19, 2025

It is with profound sadness that we announce that Rickie Danelley passed away peacefully in her sleep at Hogarth Personal Care Home, at the age of 96.

She is survived by her three children Randy Danelley, Wendy Gruen (Jack) and Terry Danelley (Deborah), her grandchildren, Shanley Pretto (John Paul), Joanna Miller (Dave) and Tyler Danelley, her great-grandchildren, Gabriel, Abigale and Teddi, her sister Dorothy Kirk (Gerry), her brother Joe Wall and half-brother Bernard Wall (Dani).

Ricki was predeceased by her husband Melvin Danelley, her parents Joe Wall (Lorraine) and Alice Monette (Cyril), and half-brothers Jack and Gordon Wall.

Rickie was born in Fort Frances, Ontario, and moved with her family to Fort William in 1939. She met Mel while working at Safeway and they were married in 1950. Ricki was never afraid of hard work and in addition to raising her three children, she worked as a cashier at A&P for many years. She made sure to pass her work ethic on to her three children.

Rickie was a child of the Great Depression and though she never talked much about it, we all knew that her early years were not easy. In spite of, or maybe because of her own experiences as a child, she excelled at being a mother to her own three children. Elaborate, handmade Halloween costumes, fun birthday parties, day trips to the beach and many summer weekends at the camp on Shebandowan Lake, were just some of the ways that she showed us her love.

Mom had an innate artistic ability, but her passion was singing and dancing, where she found joy. To her, music was just made to sing and dance to, and she did so at every opportunity and with gusto. Even in her wheelchair at 96, she couldn’t stop her hands and legs from moving to the rhythm of whatever song was playing and singing along. Mom also had a serious addiction to Lawrence Welk.

Rickie would be the first to admit that she didn’t enjoy cooking, but her apple pies were legendary. No one could make a flakier crust or get just the right combination of cinnamon, sweetness and tart in the filling. The family mourned when she could no longer bake, but Wendy did a pretty good job of carrying on the tradition.

Our mother lived independently and in good health well into her early 90’s, before moving into Leila Greco and then into the transition unit at Willow Place. We wish to thank the staff for their compassionate care of Rickie during her time there.

The family will hold a private ceremony to celebrate her life and her interment.

Condolences may be made through www.nwfainc.com