Reinhild Vadla of Lewiston, NY, passed away on Saturday, December 24, 2016, at her residence. She was born in Stendal, Germany, on January 17, 1930, the daughter of the late Reinhold and Gertrud (Steinke) Borstel.
Mrs. Vadla graduated from the Fashion Technology Institute in Berlin and move to New York City in 1957. She was the Simplicity Pattern Company fabric and design specialist for many years, responsible for coordinating the work of the fashion designers with the pattern makers and the fabric designers. Her work directly influenced the way millions of women sewed, and what they wore. After marrying Jostein Vadla she moved from New York City to Lewiston where she became well known in artistic and craft circles for her woven tapestries and pottery sculpture. Mrs. Vadla was an annual exhibitor at Yankee Peddler, the Bay Village Renaissance Festival, the Lakewood Art Festival, and the Lewiston Art Festival, were she had won many awards for her artwork. Her tapestry of the Rainbow Bridge has been on exhibit in area museums and her pottery-sculpture have sold as far away as Japan. Mrs. Vadla studied pottery in Mexico and Denmark and also lectured and conducted workshops on weaving in Alaska and in Rochester, NY. She was a member and served as Vice President of the Lewiston Garden Club and a member of the Buffalo Niagara Weavers Guild.
Mrs. Vadla was the wife of the late Jostein J. Vadla, who died in May of 2012. She is survived by a son, Olaf E.(Iris M. Varianti) Roennspiess, a step daughter, Karen, (James) Malmberg, a step son Eric (Elissa) Vadla, her grandchildren Lance and Brent Vadla, Christina & Stephen Izquierdo, a nephew Peter David Valdez, a niece Lisa (Mike) Barnett and was the great aunt of Loren and Jack Barnett. Mrs. Vadla was the sister of the late Rosemary E. Valdez.
Her friends are invited to a commemoration at her home on Sunday, January 1, 2017 at 3:00 PM.
A festival of life ceremony will be held on Saturday, January 7, 2017, at 1:00 PM at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Niagara, 639 Main Street, Niagara Falls, NY.
Memorials may be made in her name to the American Stroke Association.
