Thelma O’reilly

SAN DIEGO — Thelma O’reilly, 103, died in her sleep on March 21, 2021. She was born on November 30,1917, in Woodlynne, New Jersey to parents Violet Bell and Emil Serlich.

She enjoyed her early life on the family farm where she developed her all-encompassing love of nature. The Great Depression led her family to relocate to Norfolk, Virginia where her father opened a very successful beachfront seafood restaurant in Virginia Beach, “Serlich Seafood”.

As a young woman, Thelma enjoyed great success when she opened a knitting shop. She was a business owner long before most women worked outside the home.

In 1953 a date took her to a Marine Corps Ball. Little did he know he would lose her forever that night when the young marine Captain managing the dance spotted her across the room. Thomas “Tim” Molloy O’reilly cut into her dance and the rest is history.

Tim and Thelma fell madly in love and spent the next 62 years very happily married. Shortly after their marriage Tim entered the Marine Corps Reserve, ultimately retiring as a Lt. Colonel, and went to work as

November 30, 1917 - March 21, 2021 a General Manager in the insurance industry which first took them to Newport, Rhode Island, and then to San Diego, California. They settled in the Mt. Helix area of San Diego and raised their family.

Prior to moving to California, Thelma was an award winning member of many East Coast plant societies and specialized in artistic flower arrangements. San Diego weather allowed Thelma to expand her love of nature and she developed a fascination with two plant groups, Bromeliads and Begonias. She became an internationally renowned expert in each.

In 1981 the Botanical Director of the Smithsonian Institute, Dr. Lyman B. Smith, named a newly discovered Brazilian begonia after her, ‘Begonia thelmae’. Dr. Smith had so much respect for her work

he also honored her by placing an herbarium specimen she created in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian.

Thelma was an integral member of both the American Begonia Society and the American Bromeliad Society. She was honored with all the top awards of each group. She hybridized (created) many award-winning begonias and has many begonias, bromeliads and succulents named after her. There were numerous San Diego Union-tribune articles featuring her gorgeous La Mesa/mt. Helix garden.

In 2012, CBS news reporter, Larry Himmel, immortalized her in a lovely TV feature entitled “Flower Power”, filmed in her beautiful garden. That same year she was celebrated as a “Living Legend” by the American Begonia Society where her nickname is “Begonia Queen”.

Thelma’s many achievements over the years garnered international attention. She was invited and traveled to Australia and New Zealand on lecture tours three times. She also made numerous plant collecting trips to Mexico, Central and South America.

Sadly, her husband and best friend, Tim, died in 2015. Three beloved children survive her: Robert (Lynn Stadille) James, Maureen (Russell Pulver) O’reilly, and Janet (Robert) Haworth, as well as many grand and great-grandchildren. Her sons, Ronald James and Rian O’reilly, predeceased her.

Her family wishes to sincerely thank Judy Short, Thelma’s loving companion and friend for the last four years. Also many thanks to the caring staff at Silvergate Retirement Community of Fallbrook, Right at Home, and The Elizabeth Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her name to the Thelma O’reilly Fund of the American Begonia Society (2533 Warrego Way, Sacramento CA 95826) or the San Diego Botanic Garden. Both organizations were close to her heart.

A “Zoom” memorial and celebration of her life will be held at a future date to be announced on Legacy. com.

Thelma lived a full and joyful life and she and Tim are once again together dancing to their special song, “Strangers in the Night”.

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