Alberta G. Riel

Alberta G. (Provost) "Bert" Riel, 88, of 76 Montague Street, passed peacefully on December 17, 2021 at the Charlene Manor Extended Care Facility, Greenfield, MA following a period of declining health.

She was born in Unity, NH on March 1, 1933 to Fred and Yvonne (Pickard) Provost. Alberta attended St. Mary's Parochial School, graduating in the Class of 1951. She furthered her education by attending the Northampton Commercial College, Northampton, MA where she obtained her certificate in Secretarial Studies. She was employed by Mass Mutual Life Insurance Co. in Springfield, MA for several years, later by the Montague Public School System in the Superintendent's Office as an administrative assistant and served as the secretary for the School Psychologist.

She married George E. Riel, Jr. on August 7, 1954 in Claremont, NH. They celebrated 67 years of marriage and were blessed with three daughters. Alberta was active in her daughter's Girl Scouting and was for many years the local GS Cookie Drive "Mother". She enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, word puzzles and crossword puzzles, scrabble, sewing and crafting. She often enjoyed an occasional "cream horn" cheese doodles, her delicious blueberry cake and her favorite –Strawberry Shortcake. A devout Catholic, she was a communicant of Our Lady of Peace Church in Turners Falls, MA and was a member of the parish Women's Group and volunteer for the annual Dove of Peace Holiday Bazaar for many years.

Survivors include her husband George, her three daughters: Suzanne E. Davis (John) of Turners Falls, MA, Joan E. Ellis (Ralph) of Millers Falls, MA and Amy J. Connelly of Turners Falls, MA. Additionally, she leaves 6 grandchildren: Patrick Davis (Julie), Katherine Davis (Angela), Lauren (Matt), Geoffrey Ellis (Bailey) Maureen Grout (David) and Emma Connelly, as well as 7 great grandchildren: Siobhan, Cathal, Cossette, Lily, Avery, Beau and Theo. Additionally, she leaves her sister Jeannette Leduc of N.C., along with two brothers-in-law, Buddy Riel (Nancy) and Doug Riel (Kate) and several nieces, nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews. She was predeceased by her parents, her granddaughter Sonja Ellis and her 6 siblings: Peelow, Anita, Irene, Doris, Theresa and Francis, as well as by her son-in-law Sean B. Connelly and her brother-in-law Roger Leduc

A private Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated in loving memory of Alberta for her family only on Tuesday, January 4, 2022 at Our Lady of Peace Church, 90 Seventh Street, Turners Falls, MA. Rites of committal and burial will follow in St. Anne's Cemetery at 12 Noon. Friends and neighbors are invited to join the family for the committal rites at the cemetery. DUE TO COVID19 CONSIDERATIONS, MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING WILL BE REQUIRED. Expressions of affection are suggested in the form of a charitable donation in Alberta's memory to Our Lady of Peace Church, in c/o the Social Justice Commission in support of the parish community meal's site, 90 Seventh Street, Turners Falls, MA 01376. The McCarthy Funeral Homes of Greenfield and Turners Falls, MA, entrusted with the arrangements. Guest book and condolence message available at www.mccarthyfuneralhomes.com

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