Joan Riley

Joan Harriet McLaughlin Riley, 79, has peacefully transitioned from human form to pure love and light. She was born in Dodgeville, Iowa, to Daniel and Mary Ellen Fitzgerald McLaughlin, and lived in Burlington until the early '70s.

A rosary will be said at 6pm at Blessing Funeral Home, 401 Elm St., Friday, May 24, with a visitation to follow, until 8pm, and the funeral service will be at St. Jude Catholic Church, 500 E. Dallas St., on Saturday, May 25, at 10am, both in Mansfield.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society.

Joan had a vibrancy about her that exhibited love in its finest form. The people around her and her unfaltering Catholic faith were where most of her energy was spent. She showed those around her the path to unconditional love and forgiveness, and she led by example. What a beautiful person she was, and what a vibrant soul she continues to be.

Beautiful Joan spent 39 years married to a handsome son-of-a-gun, Jim Riley. Joan was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her sister Rita Smith and brother Daniel McLaughlin. Joan is survived by her four daughters, Kelly Hastings, Colleen Riley, Erin Riley, and Catie Riley Wright; her three sons, Brian, Kyle, and Todd Riley, all of Texas; her sisters, Rosemary Abel, and Linda Clayton of Burlington and Lorraine Hockett of Kansas City; her brothers, Patrick McLaughlin of Burlington and Gene McLaughlin of Des Moines; 13 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. She also has countless in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends in the Burlington area.