Services set for July 28 for Marco Polo fire victim

Services for the mother and son who died Friday in the Marco Polo high-rise fire are being planned to give friends, family and co-workers a chance to mourn and, more important, to remember how they lived.

Britt Reller, 54, and his mother, Jean Dilley, 87, were among three people killed and a dozen injured in a fire that broke out Friday afternoon at the condominium at 2333 Kapiolani Blvd. The building, with 568 residential units, was built in 1971 before the city began requiring sprinkler systems.

A local service for Britt Daniel Reller will be held July 28 at Central Union Church, 1660 S. Beretania St. A 10 a.m. visitation will be followed by an 11 a.m. celebration of life and a reception. For information on the service, call 941-0957.

Reller was born May 2, 1963, and grew up in Willmar, Minn. An in-flight manager for Hawaiian Airlines, Reller spent his career in the airline industry.

Over the years, he advanced from flight attendant to executive working for Northwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, US Airways and American Airlines. A snappy dresser, Britt Reller also worked for Ralph Lauren and Bloomingdale’s.

“He had friends all over the globe,” Phil Reller said of the brother, who was 12 years his junior. “We’ve received condolences from as far away as London and Tokyo.”

Britt Reller moved to Hawaii about two years ago to be closer to his older brother’s family. Phil Reller said his brother bought the Marco Polo unit so that he could help his mother relocate to Hawaii from Arizona.

“He brought her into his care and was her caregiver,” said Reller, who is the pastor of Pearl City Community Church.

Britt Reller’s compassion also extended to his work and charitable life, Phil Reller said.

“He went on a business trip to India and saw a school where the kids didn’t have any transportation. He came back and raised funds for Jeeps,” said Reller, who said he and his brother had been planning a volunteer trip to the Evangelical Hospital in Khariar, India, which provides care to impoverished patients.

The family has asked that those who wish to honor Britt Reller consider giving to the Evangelical Hospital through the United Church of Christ Common Global Ministries. Donation information can be found online at donate.globalministries.org/onlinegiving. Checks can be mailed to Global Ministries Controller, 700 Prospect Ave., Cleveland, OH 44115.

Services for Dilley, who was a gospel singer in her youth, still are pending. In addition, several airline companies will be holding their own memorials for Britt Reller this fall on the mainland.