Adeline (Ade) Catherine Niel

Adeline (Ade) Niel 98, of West Covina, passed away peacefully on November 6, 2023, after shared goodbyes with family and loved ones.

Born on April 24, 1925 to Theodore and Catherine Peplinski in Solon Township, Leelanau County, Michigan, Ade grew up in Cedar Michigan with six bothers and sisters-Rae, Leo, Steve, Alice, Pat and Joe-all of whom predeceased her.

After graduating from Holy Rosary High School in 1943, Ade started working in retail and within a few years met the love of her life, Charles (Charlie) Niel.  They moved to Monrovia, CA where they married, and Ade worked as a seamstress.  They settled into their forever home after the birth of their first daughter, Charlotte.  Ade and Charlie had two more children-Susan and Arlene.  Ade stayed at home to raise her three children for 18 years.

During this time she became an amazing baker who made sure there was always a sweet treat in the house.  Everyone remembers her famous Christmas cookies.  She would start making then in November and close to Christmas she would assemble gift boxes of cookies for family and friends.  Ade was also quite artistic.  She took classes in mosaics, copper relief, cake decorating and needlepoint.  Her experience as a seamstress gave her skills to sew beautiful clothes for herself and for her children.

Outside the home, Ade worked in the Queen of the Valley Hospital mail department and then for a donut franchise at Sears.  She volunteered at the Inter-Community Hospital Bargain Box, regularly donated blood and money for different causes and served as a girl scout leader for her children's troops.

For fun Ade played cards.  She especially loved bridge and played until her eyesight and mind failed.  She also bowled on a league for many years.   Anyone who ever played a game with Ade knew she hated to lose.  She was a fierce competitor.

After her husband Charlie died, Ade spent many years traveling at home and abroad with her sister, Pat.  They traveled to China, Egypt, Italy, Poland and France and took cruises in Europe and the U.S.

During her later years, Ade spent much of her free time creating beautiful crewel embroideries.  She donated many for fund raising efforts, gifted others to family and friends; several she framed and hung in her home.  They are truly works of art that will remind us of how gifted she was artistically.

We remember Ade as a loving mother, wife, sister, daughter, mother-in-law and friend.  Ade is survived by her daughters Charlotte Niel, Susan d'Herbes and Arlene Araujo (husband Tony), her grandchildren Gabriel Araujo (wife Stephanie) and Matthew d'Herbes, and one great grandson-Tommy Araujo, as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

We miss her greatly but find comfort in knowing that her soul is now in God's warm embrace and the embrace of those she has loved and await her.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Ade's name to the Alzheimer's Association.