B.J. (Bambah-Jean) Riedel was born to Paul P. Stephenson and Katherine F. (Pollard) Stephenson on July 13, 1930, in West Hartford, Connecticut. She graduated from high school in Springfield, Massachusetts and went on to Lasell Junior College. Later she went back to school at National College of Education in Evanston, IL and graduated in 1971 with a BS in Elementary Education and a minor in Mathematics. She then received her teaching certificate that was so important to her.

She was married to Ralph F. Riedel on September 22, 1952, in Springfield, Massachusetts. They moved to Evanston, IL in 1957 for Ralph’s work. There they adopted their first child, Kurt in 1959 and then their second child Kristen in 1961. The family then moved to Westfield, NJ in 1972, Flossmoor, IL in 1974 and B.J. moved back to Evanston, IL in 1995.

B.J. was a devout church member in the Christian Science church, where she volunteered often and devoted a lot of time. She also gave church services as a part time chaplain at three mental health centers in Illinois and worked as a substitute teacher when she could. After Ralph passed in 1978, she went to work for Amoco Oil in Chicago and after taking early retirement from Amoco she had the opportunity to become a house mother for the Delta Zeta House sorority at Northwestern University. She greatly enjoyed the girls and the work and was loved by the girls in the sorority. She was there for 15 years and then retired to her apartment that she loved so dearly. When she retired, she spent most of her time with friends, family, church, going to the Opera and volunteering for local organizations. She also had a passion for traveling. She visited Europe multiple times with her children, grandchildren and friends and visited places like Russia, Galapagos, South America, Alaska, and many cruises to the Caribbean.

She is survived by her son, Kurt Riedel; daughter, Kristen (Tom) Lovegrove of Parker, CO; daughter-in-law, Sandy Dykstra; grandchildren, Bryan (Stephanie) Riedel, Ashley (Jordan) Kurtz; and great grandchildren, Lydia Flamion and Max Riedel.

Per B.J.’s request there will be no memorial service. Memorials can be sent to the following in B.J.’s name:

The First Church of Christ, Scientist                                                                                                                    Office of the Treasurer                                                                                                                                      210 Massachusetts Ave., P02-02                                                                                                                        Boston, MA 02115

Peace Haven                                                                                                                                                      12630 Rott Road                                                                                                                                                St. Louis  MO 63127

The Second Church of Christ, Scientist                                                                                                              c/o Christian Science Reading Room                                                                                                                1936 Central Street                                                                                                                                Evanston IL 60201

The Principle Foundation                                                                                                                          National Fund for Christian Science Nursing                                                                                                  10670 Barkley Street                                                                                                                                Overland Park KS 66212-1861