Obituary of Mary Ann Riddle

Mary Ann Augustin Riddle passed away in her home Sunday morning, June 23, 2013, surrounded by family. Though she often claimed to be 100 years old, she was actually only 97. She was born on January 18, 1916 in Loretto, TN and grew up there with her seven siblings Jim, Henry, Leonard, Carl, Ernie, Ped, and Sis. She graduated from Sacred Heart Elementary School and from Loretto High School. Though she has lived in Loretto most of her life, she also enjoyed traveling. Her travels included feeding the sea gulls in Florida, seeing the pope in Rome, riding a camel in Egypt, visiting Lourdes in France, and touring the Holy Lands. Mary Ann was married to the late Henry Riddle and is survived by her five children Carol Abercrombie, Janet Lee, Nancy Fleming, Mike Riddle, and Vicki Beckman. She was also blessed with seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She was involved with her church, Sacred Heart, and in her community her whole life She was a member of Sacred Heart Altar Society serving as an officer in that group on several occasions. She was also a charter member of the Loretto Lioness Club and stayed active in the club until the last few years. She cooked many dishes for the yearly Taste Fair and made cornbread for many German meals. Her daughter Janet described her as a "fearless cook, willing to try anything." Some of her specialties included fried chicken, pork roast, cherry cobbler, and Chef Boyardee Pizza. Mary Ann was instrumental in getting Girl Scouts started in Loretto in the 1960s. She was a scout leader for many years and provided property for the summer day camps that so many girls from Loretto and the surrounding areas were able to enjoy. She taught girls how to lash tables, dig latrines, cook in a box oven and build parade floats. She was an avid, lifelong gardener. Another of her true passions was decorating her home and yard for the Christmas season. Most years, you could see Rudolph pulling the sleigh in the front yard. She made most of her decorations herself throughout the years and spent many hours getting the yard looking just right. In the last few years, Mary Ann spent much of her time working jigsaw puzzles, following the local news, and bird and deer watching. She was especially pleased to be able to see the rose-breasted grossbeaks this year as they made their annual migration through Loretto. Mary Ann was a stockholder in Augustin Lumber Company, a business started by her father W. H. Augustin. Some of Mary Ann's favorite advice which came from her father was to always do business locally because those are the people that would take care of you when you need it. Toward the end, Mary Ann had several special caretakers: Paulette Beale, Sue Vess, Coral Potts, Andie Abercrombie and the special staff at Caris Hospice. Mary Ann's family would like to thank them especially for the excellent care they have provided over the past year. Mary Ann believed in living life to the fullest. Her family takes comfort in remembering some of her other favorite advice, "Go on on your trip. Have a good time. That's what I would do." Visitation with the family will be Monday, June 24, 2013 at Greenhill Funeral Home from 5-8:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. The funeral service will be Tuesday at 11:00 A.M. at Loretto Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Lucas and Deacon Sam Beckman officiating. Burial will be in Loretto Sacred Heart Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Tony Neel, Nicky Passarella, Jim Hutchins, Wayne Augustin, Kenny Augustin, and Doug Augustin. The family requests that any donations in Mary Ann's honor be made to Loretto Sacred Heart School. Greenhill Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. You may sign the online guestbook at greenhillfuneralhome.net