5 minute read
The Varrellas: Big Believers in Broomall
Resident Feature by Liz Burnett
Photos courtesy of Annie Whittington Photography www.AnnieWhittington.com
This is the story of Michelle and Rich Varrella, a busy young Broomall couple, and their toddler Anna, all of whom are making your acquaintance thanks to our magazine’s staff photographer, Annie Whittington.
Michelle and her parents lived in Havertown until she was 8, when they moved to Broomall. Shortly thereafter, her dad, Robert DeLong, passed away after a brief fight with an aggressive cancer. Michelle and her mother were lovingly supported by many families at St. Anastasia church and school, where the DeLongs were relative newcomers. Folks helped by providing rides for Michelle, bringing meals, and making Michelle and her mother feel very welcome and cared for.
A few years later, Michelle attended Cardinal O’Hara High School. She played flute all four years in the marching band, which is where she met her longtime friend Annie Whittington.
Michelle and Rich Varrella
Photo courtesy of Michelle Varrella
Meanwhile, Rich Varrella was growing up in Glenolden. After attending Our Lady of Fatima grade school, he also went to O’Hara. A “quiet kid” until his senior year, Rich enjoyed being involved in Kairos, the Christian outreach and retreat program. At O’Hara, Rich and Michelle “knew of each other”: They had no classes together, but shared the same lunch period. They would later reconnect through a mutual friend, during Michelle’s last semester in college.
After high school, Michelle went to Penn State. Her interest in Civil Engineering had been sparked by her dad, a man with great mechanical know-how who had worked before his illness in a local civil engineering firm’s Inspections Department. He loved to bring home and share with Michelle his knowledge about the plans and specs for projects he was working on. At her young age, she found it interesting, but in high school, she dreamed of being a Marine Biologist until she realized it would require her to move and live in a state with water, something she didn’t want to do.
At Penn State, her natural ability in math and fond memories of her dad lovingly explaining his projects motivated Michelle to earn a B.S. in Civil Engineering. For the past seven years, she has worked as a Transportation Engineer for McCormick Taylor in downtown Philly, the headquarters for a firm that designs and manages transportation and energy projects all over the U.S.
Rich followed a different path and timetable toward his career choice. In high school, he had liked math and science, so after graduating, he took some courses at Delaware County Community College. After discovering that Accounting wasn’t what he had expected, he enrolled in and completed DCCC’s Surgical Technology Program. Now, as a Surgical Technologist in Paoli Hospital’s Operating Room, Rich is responsible for setting up “the sterile field” of instruments and equipment for the physicians. Rich will be trained and licensed to do more in the operating room after he completes Neumann College’s Nursing Program in May 2022. Working full-time and taking those courses part-time is a major commitment that he and Michelle know will be well worth the effort long-term.
Michelle and Rich are grateful to the mutual friend who encouraged Rich to get to know Michelle in the Spring of 2012, during her last semester at Penn State. They took about nine months to be sure they were right for each other. But once they both realized how much they truly loved each other, they joyously got engaged in 2014, and got married in October 2015, at “St. Annie’s.” The priest who married them had served that parish back when Michelle’s dad was living and the DeLong Family attended church there. Getting married at that church and having their wedding reception at Springfield Country Club were two childhood dreams that came true for Michelle that day. A very good time was had by all, as evidenced by the fun people had kicking up their heels on the dance floor.
After honeymooning at a delightful resort in Riviera Maya in Mexico, Rich and Michelle returned to the Broomall home they had purchased the year before so Rich’s commute to work would be shorter. Within two months, they got their “first little baby,” Sandy, a Yellow Lab / Golden Doodle mix who’s still as energetic today as when she was a puppy. Sandy “ruled the house” until she had to share that spotlight with Rich and Michelle’s daughter Anna, who was born in February 2018.
Anna Varrella celebrating her 1st Birthday
Photo courtesy of Annie Whittington Photography www.AnnieWhittington.com
The fact that Anna’s due date was the 18th anniversary of Michelle’s dad’s passing helped The Varrellas and Michelle’s mom feel his involvement in and joy about Anna’s birth. She arrived a day early, by C-section (due to her 10 lb. 6 oz. size!). Michelle and Rich welcomed Anna Grace into their family, to the delight of all three grandparents as well as Rich’s older sister and her husband, who live within walking distance of Rich and Michelle and whose two young children got a new cousin that day.
Rich and Michelle Varrella with their daughter Anna, at their home in Broomall
Photo courtesy of Annie Whittington Photography www.AnnieWhittington.com
The Varrellas have strong ties to the Broomall community, and Michelle’s mother and maternal grandmother also live within walking distance. Rich and Michelle often encourage his parents to move there from Glenolden, to be closer to their grandkids and also enjoy the neighborhood, which is very active socially.
Rich and Michelle Varrella enjoying their daughter Anna
Photo courtesy of Annie Whittington Photography www.AnnieWhittington.com
Anna is growing quickly: Since Annie Whittington took these photos, Anna’s now walking and starting to talk. Rich and Michelle already know she’s “the biggest joy” of their lives, and they look forward to future summer vacations at their favorite Jersey shore town, Ocean City, and visiting Disney World perhaps next year. But every getaway will end with The Varrellas’ joyful return to Broomall, the neighborly community that so generously supported Michelle and her mother during a sad and challenging time. That’s the caring type of community Michelle and Rich want their family to experience and also make possible for their neighbors by being the kind of people who keep that caring tradition going for years to come.
Do you know a neighbor who has a story to share? Nominate your neighbor to be featured in one of our upcoming issues! Contact us at LBurnett@BestVersionMedia.com
