Obituary of Shelley G. Rinehard

Shelley (Delaney) Rinehard, 61, of Rome, passed away on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, at Abraham House, with her family by her side. She was born on January 26, 1960, in Vienna, the oldest daughter of Gerald and Gloria (Plopper) Delaney. She attended Camden Schools and graduated from SUNY Buffalo. She met her husband of 35 years, David Rinehard, at a roller-skating rink and married him on May 24, 1986. Shelley had a strong entrepreneurial spirit and held many jobs throughout the years. A trained optician, she managed many different optical businesses before going on to work for Turning Stone Casino, and eventually becoming self-employed as a salesperson for many different local companies. She was last employed as a bus monitor for Auburn School District where she enjoyed spending time with and caring for the students. Family was at the center of her life. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and friend to so many. She loved doing puzzles and playing games with friends and family, was a voracious reader, with a never-ending list of library books from Jervis Library, enjoyed reality television and pop culture, and was likely found wearing a shade of purple at all times. Anyone who knew her would say she was always marching to the beat of her own drum, unabashedly herself, and that she radiated joy and pride for her four daughters and two grandsons. Shelley is survived by her husband, David Rinehard, Rome; her parents, Gerald and Gloria Delaney, Rock Hill, SC; her four daughters, Amber (Andrew) Flack, Alexandria, VA, Courtney Rinehard, Auburn, CA, Kelly Rinehard, Yorkville, and Emily Rinehard, Rome; a sister, Theresa (Bud) Rutz, Waxhaw, NC; two beloved grandsons, Simon Flack and Jesse Flack, Alexandria, VA; in addition to many in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins. Shelley was predeceased by her in-laws, Jack and Alice Rinehard and son-in-law Brian Asher. Relatives and friends are invited and may call on Monday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Nunn & Harper Funeral Home, 418 N. George St., Rome. A brief service and interment will immediately follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Rome. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to The Abraham House, by visiting https://www.theabrahamhouse.org.