Mary Kay Riley, 89, of Burlington, died Thursday, May 29, 2025, at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington, surrounded by her loved ones.
She was born on Nov. 1, 1935, in Little Chute, Wisconsin to Lester and Margaret "Peg" Brill Verstegen. In her younger years, she enjoyed ice-skating and was a majorette in the Little Chute High School marching band. She started her career at Kimberly Clark and spent a formative summer working in Chicago.
She met her husband, Eugene Riley, on a blind date on March 17, a day Gene always credited to the luck of the Irish. The two married on October 19, 1957, in Little Chute, Wis. They moved to Montclair, New Jersey, where they enjoyed trips to New York City, taking in the theater, sights and food.
The pair landed permanently in Burlington, where they raised their six children. Mary Kay saw being a mother as her calling and relished in raising her large family. Mary Kay belonged to St. Paul’s Catholic Church, where she volunteered weekly. She was actively engaged and worked the polls on election days. Mary Kay loved playing bridge, belonging to at least two bridge clubs at a time. Following her husband’s death in 2009, she routinely baked her famous chocolate chip cookies and snickerdoodles for the guests of the Hospice House where they both spent their final days.
She is survived by her sister Margaret; six children and their spouses: Tim and Lynn of Woodstock, GA, Kevin and Stephanie of La Quinta, CA, Steve and Suzanne of Oakland, CA, John and Andrea of Burlington, Jane and Mike of Wilmette, IL, and Tom and Tammy of Longview, TX; and 12 grandchildren: Bree, Ryan, Monique, Austin, Maeve, Charlie, Miles, Meghan, Will, Makenzie, Savannah, and Ava.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lester and Peg Verstegen, her sister, Noreen Vanden Heuvel, and her husband, Eugene Riley.
Visitation will be from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Monday, June 2, 2025, at Divine Mercy Parish-St. Paul's Catholic Church.
The Funeral Mass of the Resurrection for Mrs. Riley will be 11:30 a.m., Monday, June 2, 2025, at St. Paul's Catholic Church with Fr. Dominic Nguyen as the Celebrant. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery. A time of food and fellowship will be held at The Drake following the burial.
A memorial has been established for Notre Dame Foundation.