OSWEGO, NY - Anne Powers Riley, 96, a resident of 74 E. Oneida St., Oswego, died Monday, Nov. 17, 2008, at St. Luke Health Services, after a short illness.

Born in Albany, NY, on July 27, 1912, Anne was the daughter of Walter M. Powers, and Estelle Hayden Powers.

Anne Powers Riley

She attended St. Mary’s School, Oswego High School, and graduated from Watertown High School.

Additionally, she graduated from the Albany Business College, and Cortland Normal School, class of 1934.

While at Cortland, she was a member of the Clio sorority, represented the school at a drama competition at Fordham, and, as editor of the school newspaper, attended a publications conference in Chicago where she visited the World’s Fair.

She also received the Principal’s Appointment, a highly coveted award.

Before her marriage, Anne taught in Huntington, NY.

She later inspired her students at St. Paul’s Academy and Fitzhugh Park School.

A woman of deep faith, Mrs. Riley had been a member of St. Paul’s Church for 73 years, since her marriage there on July 10, 1935.

She was a longtime member of its Altar Rosary Society and the Young Catholic Mothers’ Club (for more than 50 years).

She was a devoted member of the Catholic Daughters of America and last month received her 60-year pin.

Anne belonged to the Women’s City Club, was a Girl Scout leader, and a Red Cross volunteer.

After her retirement, she could be seen every day walking to the YMCA for the morning Social Swim Group.

From an early age, Anne was an avid reader.

She also enjoyed the theater and travel, especially wintering in Florida for the last 30 years.

Last year, she helped represent St. Mary’s in the Spelling Bee to support Trinity Catholic School.

Until shortly before her death, she applied her breadth of knowledge to working crossword puzzles, especially enjoying the challenge of the New York Times Sunday Crossword Puzzle.

Mrs. Riley was predeceased by her husband of 48 years, Francis T. Riley, who died in 1983.

Surviving are three daughters, Monica Byrne and husband Jim of Longwood, Fla., Martha Andreo of Bedford, NH, and Meg Schneider and husband Jim of Oswego; her sister, Jane P. Benson of Syracuse; grandchildren Peggy Bassett and husband Jim, Katie Byrne, Betsy Moricle and husband Bill, Ellen and Eric Schneider, and Michael and Mary “Molly” Andreo; great-grandchildren, Riley, Hayden, and Sophie Bassett, and Grace, Griffin, Hollis, and Hadley Moricle; and several cousins.

Anne Riley’s generous, loving, and tolerant nature, and her sense of humor, have touched many.

She will be missed.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, at St. Paul’s Church, followed by burial in St. Paul’s Cemetery.

Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, at the Dain-Cullinan Funeral Home, 112 E. Second St.

Anne had many special charities, especially St. Paul’s Church, the Oswego Public Library, the Red Cloud Indian School, Covenant House, Guest House, the Oswego County Historical Society, and WCNY.

A contribution may be made in her name to any of these organizations.

www.daincullinan.com

Oswego Harborfest has announced that the popular 50-50 Raffle to benefit Harborfest will return in 2009.

Farnham Family Services, an Oswego-based substance abuse treatment and prevention center, is now selling tickets for its 2009 Changing Lives Raffle.

As this column goes to press the 152nd Oswego County Fair should be in full swing at Sandy Creek. During the previous week the Heritage building was stocked full with many new and unique exhibits. We even brought down a piano for some live music!