Dorothy B Riegel

Dorothy (Dorey) Bradford Riegel, born March 4, 1961 in Washington D.C., passed away at her home in Pesotum, Illinois under the care of hospice and with family and friends by her bedside on December 6, 2019.

Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 14, 2019 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Champaign.

Predeceased by her parents Paul and Dorothy Riegel, she is survived by her husband Terry Plampin, her brother Paul Riegel (Mary Jane Riegel) of Cedarburg, WI, her brother John Riegel (Dawn Riegel) of Savoy, IL, her sister Katherine Riegel (Andrew Braithwaite) of Cordova, TN, and nieces and nephews Jennifer Jacob, Paul Riegel, Cynthia Macwan, Grant Chassy, Trent Chassy, John Riegel, and Jessica Braithwaite. She is also survived by Terry’s children Dale Plampin, Emily Thorpe, Darrell Plampin, Wendy Valderamma, and Michael Plampin, and grandchildren Billy, Jimmy, Natalie, Nonnie and Mathias.

Dorey was a pastor at Lake Fork United Church of Christ in Atwood, a chaplain at OSF Hospital in Champaign, and co-founder of Healing Horse Stables, an equine therapy center in Pesotum. A long-term member of Westminster Presbyterian Church as well as a member of the Disciples of Christ Community Church and the interfaith Sisters in Faith, Dorey came to be an ordained minister towards the end of a life that was always dedicated to service. Her jobs—paid and volunteer—included chaplain at Kemmerer Village, home health nurse, international peace missionary in South America, nurse at the Spanish Catholic Center in the D.C. area, hospice volunteer, nurse educator for pregnant teens, immigrant advocate, and equine-assisted therapist. She particularly enjoyed working with troubled teenagers, and pastoral care.

Beloved by many communities, Dorey reached out to people in need of help. Her natural gifts of spiritual and emotional presence, wisdom, and joyfulness made a profound difference in many lives. Towards the end, when she was not speaking much, she still said, “I love you” in response to visitors, and that is her legacy: a great love for all. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Healing Horse Stables. 

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