Regina 'Jean' (Kells) Bray, 83, Twin Lakes, NC, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister, died Tuesday at the Memory Care Center at the Twin Lakes Retirement Community. She was born in Juniata to Roy & Edith Kells and was the youngest of seven children. She graduated from Altoona Catholic High School in 1943. On Aug. 8, 1945, she married her lifelong love and companion, David W. Bray, in Altoona. Together they welcomed into the world seven children, 22 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Regina's passions were her family, her church and her travels throughout the country. She was a member of the Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic parish in Burlington, NC, and was always devout in her faith. Even as Alzheimer's claimed her memory, her sweet nature and selfless compassion for others continued to sustain her family and friends. She will be lovingly remembered by husband of 63 years, David; sister, June Johnston of Martinsburg; two daughters: Donna Peachy and her husband, Richard, of Rosendale, WI, and Elizabeth Dahlquist and her husband, Paul, of Naperville, IL; five sons: Gregory and his wife, Kathy, of Birmingham, AL, Joseph and his wife, Rita, of Temple, TX, Jeffrey and his wife, Elise, of Frankfort, IL, Timothy and his wife, Thelma, of Chicago Heights, IL, and Matthew and his wife, Dee, of Fuquay Varina, NC; 22 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by sisters: Evelyn Larkins and Mary Jane Scoville; brothers: James, John and Robert Kells and grandson, Allen Jeffrey Bray. Friends will be received from 7-9 p.m. Monday, May 25, 2009, at Stevens Mortuary, Altoona. A funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, 2009, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, Altoona. Committal, Calvary Cemetery.

Altoona Mirror, Sat., 5/23/2009