Dawn G. Riley
Friday, September 16, 1921
Date of Death:
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Age:
95 years old
Visitation
Date: Sunday October 09, 2016
Time: 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Location: River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home [ view map ]
Second Visitation
Date: Monday October 10, 2016
Time: 9:30 am - 10:30 am
Location: Co-Cathedral of St. John The Evangelist [ view map ]
Memorial Mass
Date: Monday October 10, 2016
Time: 10:30 am
Location: Co-Cathedral of St. John The Evangelist [ view map ]
Additional Notes:
The family would like to have a time of sharing memories during the visitation Sunday evening. The event will begin at 5:00pm.
Friday, September 16, 1921
Date of Death:
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Age:
95 years old
Friday, September 16, 1921
Date of Death:
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Age:
95 years old
Dawn G. Riley
On October 4, 2016, Dawn Riley passed from this life. She departed much as she lived – peacefully and with quiet grace – surrounded by the love of her family.
Dawn was born on September 16, 1921, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. A gifted student and musician, she attended River Falls State Teachers College in River Falls, Wisconsin, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree and teaching qualification in English, and served as Concert mistress for the orchestra. There she met her husband, Robert J. (Bob) Riley. They married at the end of WWII in July of 1945, and enjoyed nearly 50 years together until Bob’s death in December of 1994. Dawn is survived by her six grateful children who will miss her very much: Eileen Parker (Louis) of Aurora, Illinois; John Patrick (Lynn) of St Paul, Minnesota; Mary Gunderson (Peter) of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota; Sara Tinetti (David) of Falcon Heights, Minnesota; Thomas (Rachel Daack) of Dubuque, Iowa; and Colleen Riley (Donovan Palmquist) of Farmington, Minnesota. Dawn never missed a chance to brag about her 11 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. They were especially close to her heart, as she is to theirs.
Dawn was preceded in death by her husband Robert, mother Marian Wheeler, father Chester Wheeler, and brother Dale. She is survived by her dear sister Caryll Tibbetts, of Leavenworth, Washington.
For the last eight years of her life, Dawn was blessed with the love and companionship of Martin Hardy whom she married on November 22, 2008. Martin and Dawn spent many happy days and made treasured memories driving across country to visit their shared families. She cherished and was cherished by Martin’s children Tom, Olive, Candyce, Bonnie and Duane as a part of the Hardy family.
Dawn’s radiant smile and gracious personality endeared her to all who were fortunate to know her. She quietly reached out to those who were in need of friendship or stability. Her Christian faith was a constant presence in her life, and she made many dear and lasting friendships through her involvement in Christian Women’s Club, Teams of Our Lady, and other faith organizations.
In addition to her family and friends, Dawn’s legacy lives in music. She served as the organist at St. John’s Catholic Church for over 40 years, playing for weekly Mass and for countless weddings and funerals. She was a member of Keyboard Club, Performance Club and Rochester Civic Music Guild, among others. And most importantly, she instilled the joy of music to hundreds of piano students in her fifty-year teaching career.
Dawn’s kindness, generosity, and love of music live on in generations of students and in the many people whose lives she touched.
The memorial Mass will be at 10:30am Monday, October 10, 2016 at The Church of St. John the Evangelist in Rochester with Rev. Msgr. Gerald Mahon officiating. A visitation will be held from 2:00pm to 6:00pm with a time of sharing memories at 5:00pm on Sunday afternoon at the River Park Chapel, Macken Funeral Home. A second visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. The burial of Dawn’s ashes will be at a later date.
Memorials are suggested to The Church of St. John the Evangelist – Rochester, MN.
Condolences
The family of Dawn G. Riley has received the following condolences.
Dawn was very gracious and helpful to me when I first started playing the organ at St. Johns. I was only 9 or 10 at the time, and she helped me get acquainted with the organ, the location of the music, and how the priests would give the "signal" to start playing, among other very important details I needed. As I was preparing for college, she also gave me some piano lessons, since I had never taken any, so I could learn the difference between playing the piano and the organ. I never forgot her many kindnesses, and she has held a special place in my heart ever since! Rest in peace, dear Dawn.
My sincere condolences to the family of Mrs. Dawn Riley, beloved piano teacher. How fortunate I was to have such a wonderful instructor and person introducing me to the joys of music. Weekly lessons with her--first at Bodine's in Miracle Mile and then in the basement of her home--punctuated my grade school routine. She was always cheerful, always encouraging, always gentle--and always effective: my parents never had to ask me to practice. As a very innocent (I am the eldest of 5 children) 8-year-old, I would diligently make up a song at the end of each unit in my Music Tree books. Mrs. Riley would listen with endless patience as I rambled up and down the keyboard singing about balloons and such. I don't know how she kept from laughing, and to her great credit, it never occurred to me to feel the least bit self-conscious. When I advanced beyond the Music Tree series, Mrs. Riley began scheduling my lesson at the end of her line-up for whichever day it was. She always extended the allotted time in order to listen carefully to each piece I had prepared. At a certain point, Mr. Riley would come down to the basement studio, make some jokes, and invite Mrs. Riley out for dinner. I always thought that was so sweet. For my part, I was always trying to play whatever piece of music she had assigned as fast as I possibly could. I remember overhearing that she saw my parents at a local concert and told them that to get over my insistence on speed, I just needed to fall in love. My parents, busy with their other children, would often take an inordinately long time to come and pick me up from my lesson. Mrs. Riley would have me sit in an armchair in her cozy, cranberry and lace-themed living room to wait comfortably until the delinquent headlights finally showed up in the drive. I would chastise whichever parent it was for being so late, but to no avail. Mr. and Mrs. Riley never complained. I am happy to report that many years after those grade school lessons, I did fall in love, and when I find time to play the piano, I do try to play more deliberately. My hope for my own children is that they be introduced to a love of the instrument by as nurturing and inspiring a teacher as I had. But I am going to try to pick them up from their lessons on time because I am not at all sure they make 'em as deeply kind and patient as Mrs. Riley anymore. Thank you for the beautiful memories. May she rest in peace.
We wish to express our sympathy to Dawn's family.
Cousins Ken and Marion Wheeler and Gloria Hempelman
My deepest sympathy to all of Dawn's family. I remember meeting Dawn when Bob was a resident at Samaritan Bethany Heights. A very devoted and loving wife. Especially kind hearted person. Rest in peace Dawn, God Bless YOU
I would like to express my condolences to you for the loss of your mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Ms. Riley. The death of a loved one can be most devastating, even when you feel they lived a long and fulfilling life. But God's Word, the Bible, holds out a hope of being reunited with your dead loved one in the near future, right here on earth under peaceful and healthy conditions. Jesus promised at John 5:28 that millions now dead will live again. And since Jesus made this promise, we can be certain that he is both willing and able to fulfill it. What joy you will feel when Ms. Riley is brought back to life and like the days of her youthful vigor.
She thought me to play piano. She was a wonderful teacher and person.
Dawn has touched the lives of so many through her music and wonderful smile. She will be missed greatly. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.