Irene "Rita" C. (Ferrante) Riel

Irene "Rita" C. (Ferrante) Riel, 92, of North Attleboro, MA passed away surrounded by her loving family at Mount St. Rita Health Centre in Cumberland, Rhode Island where she had been a short term resident. She was the loving wife of Joseph A. Riel with whom she shared 73 years of marriage.
Born in Johnston, Rhode Island on December 21, 1930, she was a daughter of the late Benjamin Ferrante and the late Margaret (Pezza) Ferrante. She moved with her family to North Attleboro in her youth and attended North Attleboro schools including the little red one room schoolhouse on Holmes Road. She was raised on the property of the family-owned Red Rock Orchard and resided on this property for the rest of her life. It was on the farm that she formed her strong work ethic and love for nature.  She passed these values on to generations of her family.
Although she always worked at the family orchard, she was a devoted and dedicated homemaker to her family and in later years, worked as a "lunchroom lady" in the North Attleboro school department and eventually became the manager of the dietary department at the School Street school.
Mrs. Riel was a communicant of the Transfiguration of the Lord Parish - St. Mary in North Attleboro.
She treasured time spent gardening, particularly in her flower gardens, playing cards especially Crazy 8's, coloring with younger family members and telling stories of her childhood.  Her favorite pastime was anything spent in the company of her large family and her adored pets.
In addition to her beloved husband, she leaves her children: Kenneth A. Riel and his wife, Trish Riel, of West Wareham, MA; Steven A. Riel and his wife, Laura Riel, of Grayslake, Illinois; Gary D. Riel and his wife, Darlene Riel, of North Attleboro, MA and Paula Murphy and her husband, Michael J. Murphy, of South Attleboro, MA; 8 grandchildren; 7, soon to be 8, great grandchildren; and three generations of nieces and nephews, extended family and dear friends.
She was the grandmother of the late Brenton Riel who died in 2007 and sister to the late Lillian M. Mahoney, the late Gloria Mahoney, the late Daniel Ferrante and the late Benjamin "Benny" Ferrante.
Family and friends are cordially invited to attend Visitation on Friday, July 28, 2023, from 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm in the "Memorial Chapel" of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro, MA
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, July 29, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at the Transfiguration of the Lord Parish - St. Mary, Park Street, North Attleboro, MA.
There will be no funeral cortege from the funeral home prior to the commencement of the funeral Mass.
Graveside services will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro, MA where she will be laid to rest with her parents and sister, Lillian.
Following cemetery services, an invitation will be extended to join the family for a time of continued fellowship and refreshments at a location to be announced.
Please omit flowers. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Mrs. Riel's name and honor may be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
For additional information or to send a family a written expression of sympathy, please visit an online guest book at www.dyer-lake funeral home.com
Arrangements under the direction of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, North Attleboro, MA. 508-695-0200