- Date Of Death: January 12, 2023
- State: Massachusetts
George Edmund “Moo” Riel, Jr., 90, of 76 Montague Street, passed peacefully on January 12, 2023 at the Charlene Manor Extended Care Facility, 130 Colrain Road, Greenfield, MA, following a period of declining health.
A native of Montague, MA he was born on February 19,1932 to Edith (Williams) and George Edmund Riel, Sr., the eldest of three sons.
“Moo” attended the former St. Anne’s Parochial School and Turners Falls High School where he was a outstanding four letter athlete for the “Indians” and President of the Class of 1950. Upon his graduation from high school, he worked for his Uncle Joe Riel at Riel Plumbing and Heating in Turners Falls, prior to enlisting in the US Navy in February of 1951. Following Naval Basic Training, he was assigned to the USS Bristol-DD857 and served honorably during the Korean Conflict. He attained the rate of Radarman 2nd Class. He married his wife the former Alberta Gloria Provost on August 7,1954 in Claremont, NH. She awaited his return from active duty and he was discharged in March of 1955. They were blessed with three loving daughters – Suzanne, Joan and Amy and celebrated 67 years of marriage prior to her passing on December 17, 2021.
In the early years of their marriage, Moo & Bert resided in Boston, MA where George attended Wentworth Institute.
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In his youth he was a communicant of the former St.
An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting and fishing.
He leaves his three loving daughters – Suzanne Davis (John), Joan Ellis (Ralph) and Amy Connelly. Additionally, he leaves his grandchildren: Patrick Davis (Julie), Katherine Davis-Wheeler (Angela), Lauren (Matt), Geoffrey Ellis (Bailey), Maureen Grout (David) and Emma Connelly, as well as his 7 great grandchildren: Siobhan and Cathal Davis, Avery, Cossette & Lily Grout, Beau & Theo Ellis, to remember him with much affection. He is remembered by his brothers – Frederick “Bud” Riel (Nancy) of Aiken, SC and Douglas “Doug” Riel (Kate) of Moline, IL, as well as several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents, Edith and George, Sr., his wife Alberta, grand-daughter Sonja Ellis and son-in-law Sean Connelly.
