Claire Riley

Claire Lupino Riley, 82, died July 21, 2014, at her home in Columbia Falls.

She was born Feb. 20, 1932, in Jersey City, N.J., to Nicholas and Claire (LaBruno) Lupino and was the third of six daughters. She decided in third grade that she wanted to be a school teacher, skipped a few grades and graduated from high school at 15 1/2. She went to Jersey City State Teacher’s College and went on to Seton Hall University for her master’s in education.

Claire married Matthew “Rick” Riley in 1961 and they immediately started their family, with Matt being born in 1962, Nick in 1964, and Gina Marie in 1966. In 1997, she and Rick moved to Montana.

Claire is survived by her husband Rick; son Matt Riley and wife Sharon, and their children Matthew, Sam and his wife Sammi, David, Liz, Joe and Sarah, of Kalispell; son Nick Riley and his wife Kathy, and their children Luke, Nicholas, Noah, Rose, Caleb and Stephen, of Columbia Falls; daughter Gina Marie, of Woodbridge, N.J.; great grandson Isaac; sisters Marie, Dolores, Fredi and Cookie; and numerous nieces and nephews

A memorial service for Claire will be held at Faith Covenant Church, 611 Third Avenue East, in Kalispell on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014, at 11 a.m. Donations in Claire’s name can be made to BSF International or Gideons’.