Obituary of Wilfried Schilling

Wilfried Arthur Schilling of Roanoke was summoned home to God on Tuesday, February 1, 2011. Willy to his friends, and Opa (grandfather) to all, was born on February 15, 1938. Willy was predeceased by his wife, "Schatzi" Liette Lorette Rioux Schilling; his daughter, Helen Elizabeth Schilling; his parents, Otto and Olga Schilling; his brothers, Wolfgang Schilling, Otto Schilling, Manfred Schilling, and his sister, Irma Mastin. Surviving are his children, Sylvie Schilling Peterson; son, Michel Marion Schilling; beloved grandchildren; Melissa Austin, Danielle Austin, Ashley Schilling, Christina Schilling and Ryan Schilling; brother, Klaus Schilling; son-in-law, Michael Thomas Peterson; daughter-in-law, Carol Schilling. Willy was born in Dusseldorf, Germany and sailed alone to Canada when he was 15. He has lived in Canada, Las Vegas, and Atlantic City throughout his lifetime, earning the respect and admiration of peers and clientele in the gormet restaurant hotel and casino business before retiring to Roanoke where he helped to design, and served as General Manager at 202 Market. He was a loving father and devoted Opa, who was always quick with a joke and a smile, and never left his wife's side during her battle with breast cancer, or his daughter's battle against Lupus. Willy was a devout Catholic who never missed a service at St. Andrews and knew that when God called him to heaven, his "Schatzi" would be waiting for him. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the National Breast Cancer Foundation or the American Lupus Foundation. A memorial mass will be conducted 11 a.m. Monday, February 7, 2011 at St. Andrews Catholic Church by Father Louis Benoit. Arrangements by Simpson Funeral Home & Crematory 5160 Peters Creek Road. 366-0707