Pauline Riley obituary: Pauline Riley's Obituary, Rochester
In Memory Of
Pauline O'Brien Riley
1947 - 2017
In Memory Of
Pauline O'Brien Riley
1947 - 2017
Pittsford:
Suddenly, Thursday August 17, 2017.
Pauline O’Brien Riley
Mother, wife, sister, daughter, and friend, Pauline O’Brien Riley died as a result of a fall in her home in the early morning hours of August 17, 2017.
Pauline was born April 18, 1947 to an unwed mother in St. Patrick’s Home in Dublin, Ireland, and adopted by Patrick Joseph and Eileen O’Brien at the age of three. She became a naturalized U.S. citizen when she was seven years old. Pauline was raised in the town of Gates on a quiet street full of kids and veterans among a large extended Irish family that spent summer vacations at Old Forge in the Adirondacks and winter vacations in Florida. She attended St. Helen’s Elementary School, St. Agnes High School, and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in political science at Nazareth College, making dear lifelong friends all along the way. Pauline eventually went on to earn her MBA at Xavier University in Cincinnati.
Toward the end of her college years, Pauline met James (Bert) Riley and they married at San Francisco City Hall in 1971. The two settled in Berkeley, California, where they lived off-and-on for more than 25 years and built a family with their children Merry Shannon, Bridget Nolan, and James Bertram IV. With a practical, can-do attitude, Pauline juggled three children and a full-time career in business accounting. During her years in Berkeley, she developed a love of running and regularly jogged the local running trails and participated in many running events, including the famous Bay to Breakers. Pauline had a love of good food and foreign cuisines, and enjoyed dining and buying foods from Bay Area businesses at the forefront of California’s artisanal food movement.
After wondering about her family history for many years, in the early 1980’s Pauline undertook a research project to locate her birth mother. After months of letter writing, study, and travel to locate documents, she was eventually reunited with her birth mother, who had married and was living in England. Long an only child, Pauline was elated to meet her two half brothers and half sister, a second family that welcomed her with open, generous hearts.
In 1994, Pauline and Bert moved back to the Rochester area, buying a house in the Village of Pittsford. Pauline carried on her career in accounting from her home office, in a role where she was able to help private citizens and small businesspeople from all over the area. She enjoyed gardening and cultivated an appreciation for village living.
Pauline was predeceased by her parents, Patrick and Eileen O’Brien (née McCarthy) and by her birth mother, Gertrude Anne McEntee. Survivors include her husband of 46 years, Bert; her children, Merry Buckley (Daniel), Bridget Wedman (Stephen), and James Riley; her half siblings, Barry Dawson, Linda Dawson, and Mark Dawson; grandchildren Allison Wedman, Megan Wedman, Leah Wedman, Finn Buckley, and Colin Buckley; extended family; as well as many, many friends.
Friends and family may meet at the Lake Avenue gate of Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Wednesday August 23 at 11:45 AM for her graveside services. Immediately following the funeral, a gathering for family and friends will be held at Pauline’s home. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester, 99 Victor Rd. Fairport, NY 14450.
Suddenly, Thursday August 17, 2017.
Pauline O’Brien Riley
Mother, wife, sister, daughter, and friend, Pauline O’Brien Riley died as a result of a fall in her home in the early morning hours of August 17, 2017.
Pauline was born April 18, 1947 to an unwed mother in St. Patrick’s Home in Dublin, Ireland, and adopted by Patrick Joseph and Eileen O’Brien at the age of three. She became a naturalized U.S. citizen when she was seven years old. Pauline was raised in the town of Gates on a quiet street full of kids and veterans among a large extended Irish family that spent summer vacations at Old Forge in the Adirondacks and winter vacations in Florida. She attended St. Helen’s Elementary School, St. Agnes High School, and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in political science at Nazareth College, making dear lifelong friends all along the way. Pauline eventually went on to earn her MBA at Xavier University in Cincinnati.
Toward the end of her college years, Pauline met James (Bert) Riley and they married at San Francisco City Hall in 1971. The two settled in Berkeley, California, where they lived off-and-on for more than 25 years and built a family with their children Merry Shannon, Bridget Nolan, and James Bertram IV. With a practical, can-do attitude, Pauline juggled three children and a full-time career in business accounting. During her years in Berkeley, she developed a love of running and regularly jogged the local running trails and participated in many running events, including the famous Bay to Breakers. Pauline had a love of good food and foreign cuisines, and enjoyed dining and buying foods from Bay Area businesses at the forefront of California’s artisanal food movement.
After wondering about her family history for many years, in the early 1980’s Pauline undertook a research project to locate her birth mother. After months of letter writing, study, and travel to locate documents, she was eventually reunited with her birth mother, who had married and was living in England. Long an only child, Pauline was elated to meet her two half brothers and half sister, a second family that welcomed her with open, generous hearts.
In 1994, Pauline and Bert moved back to the Rochester area, buying a house in the Village of Pittsford. Pauline carried on her career in accounting from her home office, in a role where she was able to help private citizens and small businesspeople from all over the area. She enjoyed gardening and cultivated an appreciation for village living.
Pauline was predeceased by her parents, Patrick and Eileen O’Brien (née McCarthy) and by her birth mother, Gertrude Anne McEntee. Survivors include her husband of 46 years, Bert; her children, Merry Buckley (Daniel), Bridget Wedman (Stephen), and James Riley; her half siblings, Barry Dawson, Linda Dawson, and Mark Dawson; grandchildren Allison Wedman, Megan Wedman, Leah Wedman, Finn Buckley, and Colin Buckley; extended family; as well as many, many friends.
Friends and family may meet at the Lake Avenue gate of Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Wednesday August 23 at 11:45 AM for her graveside services. Immediately following the funeral, a gathering for family and friends will be held at Pauline’s home. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester, 99 Victor Rd. Fairport, NY 14450.
Pittsford:
Suddenly, Thursday August 17, 2017.
Pauline O’Brien Riley
Mother, wife, sister, daughter, and friend, Pauline O’Brien Riley died as a result of a fall in her home in the early morning hours of August 17, 2017.
Pauline was born April 18, 1947 to an unwed mother in St. Patrick’s Home in Dublin, Ireland, and adopted by Patrick Joseph and Eileen O’Brien at the age of three. She became a naturalized U.S. citizen when she was seven years old. Pauline was raised in the town of Gates on a quiet street full of kids and veterans among a large extended Irish family that spent summer vacations at Old Forge in the Adirondacks and winter vacations in Florida. She attended St. Helen’s Elementary School, St. Agnes High School, and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in political science at Nazareth College, making dear lifelong friends all along the way. Pauline eventually went on to earn her MBA at Xavier University in Cincinnati.
Toward the end of her college years, Pauline met James (Bert) Riley and they married at San Francisco City Hall in 1971. The two settled in Berkeley, California, where they lived off-and-on for more than 25 years and built a family with their children Merry Shannon, Bridget Nolan, and James Bertram IV. With a practical, can-do attitude, Pauline juggled three children and a full-time career in business accounting. During her years in Berkeley, she developed a love of running and regularly jogged the local running trails and participated in many running events, including the famous Bay to Breakers. Pauline had a love of good food and foreign cuisines, and enjoyed dining and buying foods from Bay Area businesses at the forefront of California’s artisanal food movement.
After wondering about her family history for many years, in the early 1980’s Pauline undertook a research project to locate her birth mother. After months of letter writing, study, and travel to locate documents, she was eventually reunited with her birth mother, who had married and was living in England. Long an only child, Pauline was elated to meet her two half brothers and half sister, a second family that welcomed her with open, generous hearts.
In 1994, Pauline and Bert moved back to the Rochester area, buying a house in the Village of Pittsford. Pauline carried on her career in accounting from her home office, in a role where she was able to help private citizens and small businesspeople from all over the area. She enjoyed gardening and cultivated an appreciation for village living.
Pauline was predeceased by her parents, Patrick and Eileen O’Brien (née McCarthy) and by her birth mother, Gertrude Anne McEntee. Survivors include her husband of 46 years, Bert; her children, Merry Buckley (Daniel), Bridget Wedman (Stephen), and James Riley; her half siblings, Barry Dawson, Linda Dawson, and Mark Dawson; grandchildren Allison Wedman, Megan Wedman, Leah Wedman, Finn Buckley, and Colin Buckley; extended family; as well as many, many friends.
Friends and family may meet at the Lake Avenue gate of Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Wednesday August 23 at 11:45 AM for her graveside services. Immediately following the funeral, a gathering for family and friends will be held at Pauline’s home. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester, 99 Victor Rd. Fairport, NY 14450.
Suddenly, Thursday August 17, 2017.
Pauline O’Brien Riley
Mother, wife, sister, daughter, and friend, Pauline O’Brien Riley died as a result of a fall in her home in the early morning hours of August 17, 2017.
Pauline was born April 18, 1947 to an unwed mother in St. Patrick’s Home in Dublin, Ireland, and adopted by Patrick Joseph and Eileen O’Brien at the age of three. She became a naturalized U.S. citizen when she was seven years old. Pauline was raised in the town of Gates on a quiet street full of kids and veterans among a large extended Irish family that spent summer vacations at Old Forge in the Adirondacks and winter vacations in Florida. She attended St. Helen’s Elementary School, St. Agnes High School, and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in political science at Nazareth College, making dear lifelong friends all along the way. Pauline eventually went on to earn her MBA at Xavier University in Cincinnati.
Toward the end of her college years, Pauline met James (Bert) Riley and they married at San Francisco City Hall in 1971. The two settled in Berkeley, California, where they lived off-and-on for more than 25 years and built a family with their children Merry Shannon, Bridget Nolan, and James Bertram IV. With a practical, can-do attitude, Pauline juggled three children and a full-time career in business accounting. During her years in Berkeley, she developed a love of running and regularly jogged the local running trails and participated in many running events, including the famous Bay to Breakers. Pauline had a love of good food and foreign cuisines, and enjoyed dining and buying foods from Bay Area businesses at the forefront of California’s artisanal food movement.
After wondering about her family history for many years, in the early 1980’s Pauline undertook a research project to locate her birth mother. After months of letter writing, study, and travel to locate documents, she was eventually reunited with her birth mother, who had married and was living in England. Long an only child, Pauline was elated to meet her two half brothers and half sister, a second family that welcomed her with open, generous hearts.
In 1994, Pauline and Bert moved back to the Rochester area, buying a house in the Village of Pittsford. Pauline carried on her career in accounting from her home office, in a role where she was able to help private citizens and small businesspeople from all over the area. She enjoyed gardening and cultivated an appreciation for village living.
Pauline was predeceased by her parents, Patrick and Eileen O’Brien (née McCarthy) and by her birth mother, Gertrude Anne McEntee. Survivors include her husband of 46 years, Bert; her children, Merry Buckley (Daniel), Bridget Wedman (Stephen), and James Riley; her half siblings, Barry Dawson, Linda Dawson, and Mark Dawson; grandchildren Allison Wedman, Megan Wedman, Leah Wedman, Finn Buckley, and Colin Buckley; extended family; as well as many, many friends.
Friends and family may meet at the Lake Avenue gate of Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Wednesday August 23 at 11:45 AM for her graveside services. Immediately following the funeral, a gathering for family and friends will be held at Pauline’s home. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester, 99 Victor Rd. Fairport, NY 14450.