Mary E. Riga DiAngelis

Mary E. Riga DiAngelis passed away on October 2, just shy of her 96^th birthday. Born in Toughkenamon, PA in 1928, she was the daughter of the late Diamanda and Emidio Riga. She is survived by her only child Mary Lou and her beloved dog Olivia, “Via”.

As a single working mother, Mary was a sole provider. She raised a daughter, had a career, and maintained a home on her own, which at the time was uncommon and unrecognized for the accomplishment that it was. Yet, that never stopped Mary.

She enjoyed travelling and visited many interesting places in the United States and abroad. Among all her adventures, her favorite destination was Italy. Though a private person, she liked joking around with people she knew well. She was a regular at the Brandywine Y where she took swimming and exercise classes well into her early 90’s and was a parishioner of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church. During her life, she enjoyed pet companionship. Besides Via, she cherished two previous dogs, Cindy and Oscar.

Mary also enjoyed physical work and was an avid landscaper and gardener. She was a meticulous housekeeper who took pride in having a clean and neat home and a neat and attractive yard. She did all this on her own also into her early 90’s. She was always seen doing something outdoors, from trimming bushes, cutting down tree limbs, picking up sticks and mowing to raking, planting, and even shoveling. She enjoyed these activities so much that she often said she should have been a landscaper.

After working for many years as a bookkeeper, Mary switched careers. She decided to become a nanny because of her love for children. She was hired by a wonderful couple and took care of their three children from the time they were babies to when they graduated from high school. Her love for them also extended to the couple’s grandchildren.

In her later years, she enjoyed the company and kindness of her neighbors and friends. She was especially grateful for the many visits from Audwin Odum, and Leslie Jones who made “the best soups she had ever had” and was one of the last meals she would enjoy. She was so very fond of Ann Johnston who was a constant source of joy and laughter until the very end. She always entered the house with a cheerful “Mary, Mary!” making Mary respond with a prized smile. Mary, Mary, we will miss you.