Joane Leatrice Riley

Joane Leatrice (Boling) Riley

Died Easter morning after a brief hospitalization. She was born in Inwood, Iowa on November 19, 1924, raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and graduated from Washington High School and the University of South Dakota. She was preceded in death by her parents, Luetta (Brown) and James R. Boling, brother-in-law Bruce Ashworth, and twin sister Joyce Beatrice (Boling) Ashworth. Joane is survived by her husband of sixty-six years, Philip A. Riley Jr., MD, their five children, Angela (Michael, Sr.) Francois, Camille M. Riley, Philip A. Riley III, Matthew J. (Melissa) Riley, and Lisa A. (Mark) Perlos; their children's children, Michael (Stacey) Francois, Rachel (Alex) Troncoso, and Genevieve (Joshua) Kahr, Katherine A. Riley, Philip A. (Kendra) Riley, John Boling Riley, David H. Riley, Margaret, James, and William Riley; and their great-granddaughters, Gabrielle and Natalie Francois; Angela Riley Troncoso, Aurora and Lorelei Kahr, and Baby Riley.

Mrs. Riley is well-remembered by the few survivors of her era in Pi Beta Phi Sorority, the Queen of the Miraculous Medal Parish Circle, the Diggers, Tuesday and Friday clubs, the Ella Sharp Museum board, the Country Club of Jackson, the Jackson County Medical Auxiliary, and Queens and St. Rita's parishes. Joane lived a life of gratitude for the sacrifices and direction her parents bestowed, especially their religious faith and reverence for education. Those gifts led to a BA in English in 1948, an executive secretary position with the St. Louis Grain Exchange, and a marriage to the US Navy ensign who washed dishes at the Theta House.

Her education inspired a lifelong passion for the study of literature, opera, art and music, which also informed her completion of hundreds of almost-overdue science projects, essays, and book reports, polished, perfected and typed as early-morning coffee brewed. An informed, inventive and energetic hostess, cook, and guest, Joane was dedicated to several annual holiday celebrations and round-robins with her family and the families of Jackson's "Irish Mafia". Her children, her "umpteen" grandchildren, her nieces, nephews and all their friends will remember her unfailingly elegant celebrations for those gathered around her table, and will long be inspired by the devotion to her husband and family that drove her.

There will be a visitation at 10:00 am and a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am on Wednesday, April 6, 2016 in St. Rita's Catholic Church, 10516 Hayes Road, Clarklake MI 49234. The family would appreciate that memorial donations be donated to the Philip and Joane Riley Fund of the Lumen Christi Endowment Fund, 3483 Spring Arbor Rd, Jackson, MI 49203.

Desnoyer Funeral Home-Family owned for 126 years