Catherina Merella "Rella" Macmillan, 76, of Dade City, Florida, passed away peacefully on October 20, 2026, in Dade City. Born in Tampa, Florida, on April 26, 1950, to Charles ("Charlie") and Frankie (Hamilton) Steele, Rella grew up in Dade City, her beloved hometown.

Rella married the love of her life, Brian Macmillan, on November 15, 1969. Their life together took them from Florida to Guam during Brian's military service, to a ranch in Napa Valley, California, and back to Florida, on a ranch in Ridge Manor. They later made their home in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, before Rella and Brian returned to Dade City in their retirement.

Over the years, Rella worked as a pharmacy attendant and volunteered as a candy striper. She was especially beloved for her work at Showa Boston Institute, where she welcomed students, staff, and visitors as the receptionist for the institute. Colleagues remembered her Southern warmth, and many Japanese students found in her a patient helper and friend. She shared her sewing skills, helped mend clothing, and led craft activities, developing lasting friendships with her Showa community.

A gifted artist and seamstress, Rella was an award-winning quilter whose creativity reached far beyond fabric. She made intricately decorated wax-resist dyed eggs, painted ceramic ornaments for loved ones, and shared her handmade creations generously. She also cherished handwritten letters, beautiful stationery, and the personal connection that came from putting pen to paper.

Rella had a way of making the person she was speaking to feel like the most important person in the world. She loved her family, her friends, and the animals who shared her life, including her horse Sheba, her dachshund Gosh, and her little Chihuahua, Hunny Bear. Her kindness, artistry, humor, and welcoming spirit touched loved ones in Florida, Boston, and beyond.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Brian Macmillan; her parents, Charles and Frankie Steele; and her sisters, Sharon Johnson and Ruth Ann Richardson. She is survived by her sister, Frankie Jane Crowson, and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, and friends.

Celebration of Life

A celebration of Rella's life is planned for Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at Discover Fellowship Church, 12561 Smith Road, Dade City, FL 33525. Her remains will be placed with Brian at Florida National Cemetery. Hodges Family Funeral Home in Dade City is assisting the family.

Floral arrangements may be sent to the church. In addition to floral arrangements, the family is honored to announce the establishment of the Catherine Merella Macmillan Memorial Scholarship at the Showa Boston Institute. This scholarship will honor Rella's dedication to the students she so lovingly welcomed, encouraged, and supported throughout her years at Showa. Through this lasting tribute, her kindness, generosity, and passion for helping young women succeed will continue to touch the lives of future students.

Those wishing to honor Rella's memory may make a contribution to the scholarship fund. Checks may be made payable to Showa Boston and mailed to:

Showa Boston 420 Pond Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

For electronic donations, please contact Erin Naumann at (617) 522-0080 for assistance.