Margaret F. Riley

Cambridge-Margaret F. “Peg” Riley, 93, passed away peacefully at Copley Hospital in Morrisville on Tuesday, December 16, 2014. She was born June 23, 1921 in Dorchester, MA, the daughter of Edward and Margaret Healey Fitzgerald. She married Joseph Riley on November 13, 1948 in Boston and he predeceased her on April 16, 2001.

Following her graduation from high school Margaret attended a business college in Boston, MA and was then employed by the Federal Board of Probation in Washington D.C. Margaret was married to Joseph Riley at St. Columbkills Catholic Church in Brighton, MA. . She then took on the important role of a stay at home mother to raise their family. While living in Massachusetts, Joseph and Margaret enjoyed coming to Vermont on vacation and eventually made Vermont their home upon retirement in 1974.

Margaret was a devoted mother and grandmother who brought great enjoyment to her three grandchildren. She and Joseph took care of their daughter, Louise, who was disabled. After Joseph died, she lovingly took on the role of caring for her with the help of her family and Home Health and Hospice.

Margaret loved reading mystery novels. She also enjoyed doing sketches, painting and gardening as well as playing the piano. Margaret also took in a number of rescued animals and she was an avid Red Sox fan.

She is survived by her daughters, Maureen Riley of Albuquerque, NM; Louise Riley of Chester; Sheila Halnon and husband, Jim of Sharon; and Andrea Peden and husband, Michael of Cambridge, her grandchildren, Sean Halnon, Annie Halnon and Evan Halnon, a sister, Eileen Singleton of Hingham, MA and many nieces and nephews. Margaret was predeceased by her parents; husband, Joseph, and a brother, Edward Fitzgerald.

For the last three years, Margaret resided at the Greensboro Nursing Home in Greensboro, VT. She was loved and is missed by many people there.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, December 27, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church in Cambridge. Visitation will be held Sunday, December 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Faith Funeral Home, 165 Brooklyn St., and Morrisville. Interment will be in the spring in Lake View Cemetery in Morrisville.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Margaret’s memory may be made to the Vermont Right to Life Committee, P. O. Box 1079, Montpelier, VT 05601 or go to vrlc.net.