Mrs. Eileen H. Riello

Eileen H. Riello, 90, of 72 Lillian Street, Pittsfield, MA, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 4, 2022 at Mt. Greylock Extended Care Facility where she had been a patient for a short time. Born in Pittsfield, MA on August 21, 1932, she was the daughter of William V. and Beatrice M. Alvord Heffron. She was a 1950 graduate of St. Joseph’s High School. Upon graduation, Eileen began her career as a secretary with General Electric’s Naval Ordinance Department from 1950 until 1968 when she left to start her family. While her children were in grade school, she returned to work part time as a secretary in the Pittsfield Public School Department until resuming a full-time career in the early 1980s as the Community Health Plan Coordinator for the Family Health Center at Hillcrest Hospital, a job she loved, and from where she retired in 1996. A local artist in the mediums of oils, watercolors, and pencils she was an active member of the former Dalton Art Guild. Her works have been displayed in several galleries and businesses throughout Berkshire County and she has won several awards over the years from both the Pittsfield Art League and the Dalton Art Guild. An avid reader, she loved mysteries and crime novels as well as biographies. She enjoyed watching her British mysteries on television and was always up for a good crossword or jig saw puzzle, numerous crafts, playing cards, ladies lunches, going to the casino, playing keno, summers at the South Shore with her nieces, and anytime she spent with her two grandsons whom she adored. She followed the Boston Red Sox faithfully, had a fabulous sense of humor, and was the epitome of a truly great and loyal friend. Eileen married the love of her life, Anthony J. Riello, on June 30, 1960 in New Lebanon, NY, and they were happily married for 52 years until his passing from Alzheimer’s Disease in 2012. She is survived by her daughter Victoria A. Standring (Jeff) with whom she made her home; her son Anthony W. Riello (Heidi), and her two grandsons Gabe and AJ Riello, of Pittsfield. Eileen also leaves her beloved nieces, Michelle Greenleaf and Sally Maish of Scituate, MA; Kellie (Greenleaf) Brown and husband Joe of Pittsfield; nephew Brian Greenleaf of Church Hill, TN; niece Dyan Castronova and grand niece Italy (Castronova) Sandgren both of Essex, MD; her three granddogs, Maxx, Roxy, and Ollie; and many dear friends who she cherished. She was predeceased by her husband Anthony; her parents; a sister Beatrice Castronova and her husband George of Lee, MA; and sister in law Connie (Riello) Greenleaf and her husband Bill of Pittsfield; along with two lifelong best friends Helen Trasatti and Lucy Lee. The family would like to thank Alicia Emerson, FNP at Berkshire Health Systems for her compassionate cardiac care through the years; Von Vito, DNP and the nurses and staff at Mt. Greylock Extended Care Facility. Funeral Notice: A celebration of Eileen’s life will be held Tuesday, November 15, 2022, from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm at the Dwyer Funeral Home, 776 North Street, Pittsfield MA 01201. A brief funeral service at the funeral home will directly follow at 12:30 pm, with the Deacon Bob Esposito officiating. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to the Berkshire Humane Society; Alzheimer’s Association; or the Supportive Day Program at the Ralph J Froio Senior Center, in care of the funeral home.

Mrs. Eileen H. Riello

August 21, 1932 - November 4, 2022