Marian L. Giles

Marian (Mills) Giles

September 17, 1932 – December 14, 2024

NORTH HORNELL – Marian (Mills) Giles, 92, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at her home in North Hornell. Born on September 17, 1932, to Harlow and Reva Mills, Marian was known for her intelligence, faith, and devotion to her family and community throughout her life.

A graduate of Port Byron (NY) Central School in 1949, where she earned honors, Marian pursued higher education at Auburn (NY) Business School, graduating in 1950. She began her career as a bookkeeper with Metropolitan Life Insurance in Auburn, where she worked for five years. Marian’s life changed forever when she met the love of her life, Richard “Dick” Giles, at the Methodist Church retreat at the Casowasco Camp on Lake Owasco (NY) in 1954. They married on September 17, 1955, and shared 59 wonderful years of marriage until Dick’s passing in 2014.

After moving to Hornell, NY, Marian worked for 12 years as a bookkeeper for Steuben Motors Dodge Garage before dedicating herself to working alongside her husband. Together, Marian and Dick built a thriving business, designing, repairing, renting, and selling homes. Marian managed all the bookkeeping for their ventures, a testament to their lifelong partnership.

Marian’s life revolved around her faith, family, and music. A devoted member of the Methodist Church, she enriched her community as a choir member, Sunday school teacher, nursery worker, and as a youth counselor with her husband for 24 years. In more recent years Maran and Dick were active members of the Almond Union of Churches (now known as the Almond Community Church). Marian cherished the time she spent with the children she served, finding joy in their energy and innocence. She also loved singing church hymns and playing the piano and pipe organ.

Marian was predeceased by her beloved husband, Dick Giles; her parents, Harlow and Reva Mills; and her sisters, Dorothy Fear, Maude Clark, and Margaret “Peg” Spencer. She is survived by her brother, George (Sharon) Mills of Port Byron, NY; her close niece, Barbara Collard of Owasco, NY; and many other nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends who will forever treasure their memories of her. Some of the children that Marian and Dick mentored in their church group remain in touch to this day; Marian always kept a special place in her heart for them.

In accordance with Marian’s wishes, there will be no calling hours. A private funeral and committal service will take place at the convenience of the family at the Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home, 285 Main St., Hornell. Interment will be at the Fremont Cemetery, Stephen Mills, NY.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or (www.stjude.org).

The Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home is honored to assist Marian’s family with the arrangements.

Online condolences or remembrances of Marian are welcome below in the comment section or on the Facebook page of Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home.