Doreen A. (McConnell) Riley, 67, of Bridgewater and Mashpee, passed away on August 27, 2025 after a lengthy illness. Born in Everett, she was the daughter of the late Walter S. McConnell III and Evelyn Bernice (Medina) McConnell.
Doreen was the beloved wife of Brian E. Riley; loving mother of twins Garrett and Evelyn Riley, and Akiko Riley; cherished grandmother of Giovanna and Elias; dear sister of Debra Lynn Miller of Arcadia, CA; aunt of P'lar Miller Garcia and her husband Nicholas, and Chelsea Miller. Doreen is also survived by her brother in law Patterson A. Riley, Jr. (Carolyn) of Norwood, Ma., nephews Micheal Riley (Sara) of Braintree Ma., Khalid Riley of Norwood, Ma., and Ameer Riley (Lisa) of Hamilton, N.Y., and a host nieces and nephews.
Doreen was educated in the Lexington Public Schools and after moving to New Bedford, she graduated from New Bedford High School. She attended Boston State College before moving to Los Angeles, California in 1977. While living in Los Angeles, Doreen was employed by Amark Inc., a precious metals distributor serving Southern California for five years. She then went on to become a promotions director at BIA, the Building Industry Association of California for eight years. While there she trelled around the country coordinating conventions and seminars.
Upon returning to Boston in 1991, Doreen was employed by The Saunders Group for three years as a Catering Sales associate at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston. Doreen in 1994 was hired by the Colonnade Hotel as a Catering Sales Manager. At the time, she was the only minority woman to hold that position at a major Boston hotel.
Doreen loved her family beyond words. Being a wife and mother was her greatest joy. Family trips to Storyland and Santa’s Village in New Hampshire were just as exciting to her as the college trips the family took years later when her children were about to choose a school to spend the next four years. Trips to Cape Cod and boating off of Mashpee Neck was also something she looked forward to during the summer months.
After marrying her husband Brian, she became a huge Boston sports fan. Every year the family attended a Patriots home game. She was very fond of the Boston Celtics and loved the most recent team led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. She never missed a game on television.
Doreen was a fantastic wife, mother and friend to all of those who knew and loved her. Her dry sense of humor was counterbalanced by her sincere love to help all of those that she touched in her life. She will truly be missed by all who knew her.
Family and friends are welcome to celebrate Doreen's life on Friday, September 12th, with visiting hours from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by a 1 p.m. memorial service at Waitt Funeral Home, 850 North Main St., Brockton, MA.
Reception to follow at the Canoe Club Ballroom, 2 South St., West Bridgewater, MA. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741 or National Multiple Sclerosis Society, P.O. Box 91891, Washington, D.C. 20090-1891.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Doreen A. (McConnell) Riley, please visit our floral store.