Mary J. (Riik) Valentine, 78, of Worcester passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Tuesday night, November 17 at the Rose Monahan Hospice House in Worcester.

Her husband of 53 years, Richard C. “Chet” Valentine died in 2013. She leaves her four loving sons, James and his wife Mary of Chanhassen, MN; Robert and his wife Catherine of Holden; John and his wife Marina of Holden; and Thomas and his wife Nicole of Paxton; and 13 grandchildren, Annemarie, Katherine, Maria, Matthew, John and Cecelia, Sarah and Amy, Alyssa, Alexa and Olivia, Patrick and Kevin; a brother, James Riik of Worcester; a sister, Frances Papale and her husband, Mario of Holden and many nieces and nephews. A sister, Eleanor Riik predeceased her. She was born in Worcester on February 25, 1937, daughter of John and Katherine (Mulcahy) Riik and graduated from Shrewsbury High School in 1955 and Becker Junior College.

Mary was a secretary for the Worcester Public School Department (Worcester East Middle and Central Administration Building) for 20 years, before retiring. She was a longtime resident of the Hadwen Park neighborhood and a member of Our Lady of the Angels Church in Worcester. She enjoyed socializing with her friends, which oftentimes included lunch/dinner at favorite local restaurants and bowling. Family was always at the center of her life, and celebrating cookouts and holidays with friends and family was her greatest joy. She will be truly missed at future holidays, but she will always be in our thoughts, hearts and prayers.

A celebration of Mary’s life will be held on Saturday, November 21 from CALLAHAN~FAY~CASWELL Funeral Home, 61 Myrtle Street, with a Mass at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of the Angels Church, 1222 Main Street. Visiting hours will be Friday, November 20 from 4 to 7 PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Rose Monahan Hospice House, c/o VNA Care Network and Hospice, 120 Thomas Street, Worcester, 01608.