Meet Bill and Rae Riley
Senior Care Plus and Sterling Silver Club members Bill and Rae Riley are perhaps one of the kindest and most selfless couples you ’ ll ever meet . With many years of living in the northern Nevada community and ties to Renown , their story is one we just had to hear all about .
Rae was born in Elko and moved to Reno in 1957 at age 9 . She graduated from Wooster High School . Bill was born in Ohio and raised in Southern California , where he graduated from high school and went on to enlist in the Air National Guard , serving as a jet engine mechanic . He moved to Reno in 1975 . They met when Bill was working for Coca-Cola and became the delivery driver for Rae ’ s brother-in-law ’ s company . “ When I saw him get out of his delivery truck , I was immediately attracted to him ,” said Rae . After learning that each other was single , they went on their first date a couple of weeks later . They got married on January 17 , 1981 , and moved into their first home together in Sparks . They became a large , blended family with Bill ’ s two kids and Rae ’ s three kids . Today they have 17 grandchildren , and 16 great-grandchildren with another one on the way . group , he volunteered to help establish one . Bill has been facilitating that group for almost 14 years , helping other men through their own prostate cancer journey .
Rae had begun working at Renown ( previously Washoe Medical Center ) in 1999 in the radiation therapy department . She was happy to have Bill receive his treatment from the care team she worked alongside for so many years . When Rae retired from her job in June 2015 , she returned a year later to become a volunteer in the Cancer Resource Center , and is still happily volunteering there today . “ I ’ ve loved both working and volunteering at Renown ,” said Rae . “ My favorite part is working with patients and their families , as well as the amazing staff .”
Bill and Rae are grateful for the care they have received and continue to receive at Renown . “ We love having Senior Care Plus – it wraps all of our benefits into one plan , has local customer service and helps keep us healthy ,” said Bill . “ And we love having access to all of our wonderful Renown providers .”
When Bill and Rae aren ’ t volunteering their time at Renown , they are either traveling to other states to visit their many grandchildren and great-grandchildren , spending time with friends , working on their classic cars or enjoying some red wine .
Bill began working at UPS in 1978 and retired from his 29-year-long job tenure there in 2008 . In that same year , Bill was diagnosed with prostate cancer and received radiation therapy treatment at Renown ’ s Institute for Cancer . He finished treatment and went into remission in July 2009 . After having attended cancer support groups at Renown and learning there was not yet a men ’ s prostate cancer support
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