Margaret Riiska

Margaret C. Riiska left us on March 14, 2024, after an action-packed 99-year run. On January 29, 1925, Anna (Seitz) O’Brien and Thomas O’Brien welcomed Marge into their tight-knit family as the second youngest of 12 children. She was born in Norfolk, but the family soon moved to Winsted, where Marge lived most of her life. She attended local schools, graduating from Gilbert. Marge spent her working career in banking, including at the Winsted Savings Bank, where she served as a corporator after her retirement. Marge had the generosity, elegance and resilience that characterized many who, like her,
grew up in a large family during the Great Depression.

In 1950, Marge married fellow Winsted native Bill Riiska. They led a life of devotion to their town and to their three children, Bill, Andrea and Matt and their five grandchildren, Katie, Sam, Kara, Becka and Jake.

If 90 percent of life is showing up, both far outstripped the standard. Marge participated in many civic
organizations, such as PTA, Girl Scouts and Catholic Women’s Club and was a volunteer poll worker for
years. She was a stalwart supporter of Bill’s political endeavors. Into her nineties, she still was an active
member of the Winsted Health Care Auxiliary. Marge and Bill must have set records for showing up at
their children’s and grandchildren’s events and for welcoming their children’s friends into their home.

Marge is survived by her sons, Matt Riiska (Linda) and Bill Riiska (Megan Huddleston), grandchildren
Katie Bunel (Chris), Sam Pinsky (Ryan Severins), Kara Morris (Jason), Becka Pinsky (Brian Vincent) and
Jake Riiska (Pooja), and her great-grandchildren Sadie Vincent, Bowen Vincent and Veera Riiska. Marge
is also survived by her sister-in-law Beverly Riiska, more nieces and nephews than can be listed and
many friends, including de facto family members Rich and Barbara Mazzei. Marge was predeceased by her beloved daughter, Andrea. Marge also was predeceased by all of her siblings and their spouses, so her passing poignantly ends an era but leaves her children, nieces and nephews with memories of big family gatherings that already have generated often-repeated stories.

The family is very grateful to the staff and volunteers at Geer Village and Visiting Nurse and Hospice of
Litchfield County for the care she received at the end of her life. Services were held at St. Joseph’s
Church in Winsted.