Andrea Riiska

Andrea Riiska, RN, BSN, MS, 65, of Mansfield, Massachusetts has died. Andrea was a nurse practitioner and nursing educator, mother, wife, aunt, friend, and colleague.
Andrea was born in Winsted, CT, graduated from Gilbert School and went on to obtain a BS in Nursing at the University of Connecticut. She began a nursing career specializing in cardiac care nursing, at which she excelled. Andrea held various positions at Mary Hitchcock Medical Center, Hanover, NH, Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River, MA, Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, and The Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital, West Roxbury, MA. She later obtained a Master of Science in Nursing from The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and became a board-certified nurse practitioner in adult cardiac care.
Driven by a great sense of patriotic duty and love of Country instilled by her parents William Riiska (deceased) and Margaret Riiska of Winsted, CT, she worked at the West Roxbury VA for 13 years, caring for US veterans with acute coronary disease. She was universally highly regarded by her patients, and by the medical, nursing, and administrative staff as a trusted colleague. Andrea compassionately addressed the complex medical issues of veterans. Andrea trained the Brigham and Women's cardiology staff who rotated there for training and clinical coverage on VA specific systems, clinical protocols, and specialty referrals. She was a mentor to the care team staff. For a period of time, she was a member of the cardiac transplant team and assumed responsibility for patient and patient family logistics and site preparedness. Andrea retired from working at the West Roxbury VA in October 2019.
Andrea married Howard Pinsky in Winsted in July 1982 and they were happily married for 38 years.  They settled in Mansfield, MA, where they raised two daughters who followed her into nursing and a son. She is survived by a large loving close-knit family including husband Howard Pinsky of Mansfield, MA, son Samuel Pinsky and husband Ryan Severins of Rochester, NY, daughter Kara Pinsky of Mansfield, MA, and daughter Rebecca Pinsky and husband Brian Vincent of Mansfield, MA. She is also survived by her mother Margaret (O'Brien) Riiska of Winsted, CT, brother Matt Riiska and his wife Linda of Norfolk, CT, brother Bill Riiska and his partner Bunny Donahue of Lakeville, CT, sister-in law Megan Huddleston of Norfolk, CT, nephew Greg Hanan and wife Cheryl and their children Tyler and Kennedy of Farmingdale, NY, niece Katie Bunel and her husband Chris Bunel of Barkhamsted, CT, and nephew Jake Riiska and his partner Pooja Chaudhary of Norfolk, CT, and more cousins than can be listed, and close long term friends who enriched each other's lives. All are grateful that Andrea fought so hard to give them as much time with her as possible.
Andrea was a generous and inclusive person who maintained life-long friendships and fostered new relationships as well.  Friends of her children knew that her home was a welcoming place, open to those of all backgrounds and orientations. Andrea loved gardening, skiing, baking, home decorating and going to the beach. Her favorite occasions were graduations and Thanksgiving. She was wickedly funny, loved fiercely, and suffered no fools. She reminded us to be kind, be fair, and above all, love each other. Her family wishes to extend immense gratitude to the Gynecological Oncology Department at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, specifically to her providers Dr. Ursula Matulonis and Catherine Earley, NP who graciously cared for Andrea for many years.
For the safety of all, the family will not hold visiting hours or a funeral service at this time. A celebration of Andrea's life will be held when it is safer to do so.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Andrea's honor to Rosie's Place ( http://www.rosiesplace.org/give ) to impact the lives of poor and homeless women or a local food pantry meaningful to you.
For additional information or to send the family a written expression of sympathy, please visit an online guest book at www.dyer-lakefuneralhome.com .
Arrangements are under the direction of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleborough. (508) 695-0200