Mary V. Riffle Mary V. Riffle (Baulo), 86, of East Brunswick, passed on Nov. 13, 2014, by the side of her son, Mark Riffle, and daughter-in-law, Barbara Riffle, at Community Hospice of Northeast Florida in Jacksonville, Fla., of complications from a brain tumor.
She was born on Jan. 31, 1928, in Leetonia, Ohio, to Joseph Baulo (d) and Teresa Baulo (Mango) (d), Italian immigrants. She was a first-generation American and the second youngest of 10 siblings — Anthony (d), Joseph Jr. (d), Gene (d), Rose, John (d), Mildred, Jane (d), Ruth and Catherine (d). She attended St. Patrick’s School and Leetonia High School (Class of 1946) in Ohio, where she was a cheerleader. She was mother to two sons, Mark and Michael, whom she raised in Salem, Ohio, and often a second mother to many more throughout her life.
Her native attention to detail and uncompromising work ethic earned her management roles not previously open to women throughout her working years. Among these, she was a transportation and distribution manager for Kaiser Aluminum and manager of facilities and maintenance for Middlesex County College, retiring in 1996.
Mary loved nothing more than to be in the kitchen cooking for a house full of friends and family, and was always the first to appear in anyone’s time of need with a cup of coffee or a plate of food. Fiercely independent, loyal, no-nonsense, a caretaker by nature, refreshingly honest and endearingly stubborn, she will be remembered as having always lived life on her own terms. She was an avid gardener, league bowler, skilled card player, traveler and veterans’ hospital volunteer. She maintained deep and steadfast friendships that bridged the expanse of decades, and always had an encompassing laugh, a stocked cookie jar, strict rules and a full heart.
Mary Riffle is survived by her sons, Mark Riffle and Michael Riffle; her daughter-in-law, Barbara Riffle; her granddaughter, Cristin Riffle Lash and spouse, John Lash; her granddaughter, Katie Riffle and fiancé, Dan Maguire; her great grandson, William Parker Lash; her sisters, Ruth Milcetich, Mildred Meece and Rose Raddick; along with close friends and neighbors who were family to her.
A private family burial service will be held in Jacksonville, Fla. She has asked that there not be visitation or viewing hours. She will be laid to rest at Oaklawn Cemetery, Jacksonville, Fla. A memorial service will be planned in her home in East Brunswick. Call Cristin Riffle-Lash for further details at 470- 545-8883. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that we honor her love of children by making donations to a local children’s hospital cancer center of choice in her honor.
Mary bought her home in East Brunswick and was quoted in the New York Times in 1981 as saying, “I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot,” when speaking of this new and a little scary venture of being an independent homeowner in a new place. That place and the people in it touched and filled her life so deeply over the last 30-plus years. Thank you to the wonderful friends and neighbors who filled her days and her heart; she had a full life and left us at peace because of your presence in it. We can’t thank you enough for your love through this difficult and very abrupt seven weeks as we all said goodbye. You were family to her and in turn are family to us.