Obituary: Mary Jean Riley

Mary Jean Riley (June 17, 1944 – March 11, 2025)

Mary Jean Riley, 80, from Manchester, Mich., passed away on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at her home surrounded by family. Jean’s family and friends will gather from 4pm to 8pm, on Sunday, March 16, 2025, with Rosary at 7:30pm, and from 9:30am to 10:30am, on Monday, March 17, 2025, at Eineder Funeral Homes — Manchester Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11am on Monday, March 17, 2025, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Manchester, Mich. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Rev. Fr. Bosco Padamattummal will officiate.

She was born on June 17, 1944, in Newberry, Mich., to Francis and Edna (Barber) Vogel. Jean married the love of her life and high school sweetheart, William Riley, on June 22, 1963, in Newberry, Mich. Jean graduated from Newberry High School in 1962. She was mostly a stay-at-home mom, who dedicated her time to her husband and four children. Jean could be found often at the Manchester bakery selling doughnuts, where she would work part time. She was a true “Yooper” who loved being up north. Jean enjoyed cross-country skiing, golfing, crocheting, and fishing with her husband. She also loved to play cribbage with her boys and Scrabble with her daughter. Jean was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, where she would volunteer to work at all the events and activities. She will be remembered as a loving, devoted mother, wife, and grandmother, who will truly be missed by all her knew her.

Jean will be missed by her children, Kari (Mark) Ball, William Riley, and Toby (Michelle) Riley; her sisters, Fran (Don) Sauter, Cora (Richard) Mrakitsch, and Diane (Al) Sundberg; her grandchildren, Nicholas (Rosa) Ball, David Ball, Stephanie Ball, Lauren Riley, Liam Riley, Mary Catherine Riley, John Curley, and Katie (Aaron) Parks; her great-grandchildren, Theodore Ball, Eloise Ball, Lucy Ball, Wesley Parks, and Taylor Parks; and her son-in-law, Robert Curley. She is preceded in death by her parents, Francis and Edna Vogel; her husband, William Riley; her sister, Cathy Shelton; her daughter, Colleen Curley; and her grandson, Joseph Riley.

Memorial contributions are suggested to “Cuisine with Colleen” Scholarship with the Onsted Community School Foundation: P.O. Box 92, Onsted, MI 49265. Please leave a message of comfort for Jean’s family or sign her guestbook at www.EinederFuneralHomes.com.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.