Mary Rieff

Mary M. Rieff, 88, formerly of Des Moines, Iowa, passed away Thursday, June 19, 2008, at Methodist Medical Center in Peoria, Illinois, of heart failure. Mary was born September 30, 1919 to William J. and Lillie Parr in Maxwell, Iowa. She married Paul J. Rieff on July, 26, 1943. He preceded her in death on March 12, 1993.
She attended Maxwell High School, where she graduated in 1937 as the class valedictorian. She then attended the American Institute of Business and also attended cosmetology school. She owned her own beauty shop in Nevada, Iowa before selling it and moving to Des Moines. She continued as a beautician working only part time while she raised her 2 children. She then went to Mercy Hospital where she worked as Patient Accounts Supervisor for 21 years before retiring in 1985.
Mary’s passion in life was her children and her rose garden. Mary was a charter member of the Des Moines Rose Society. She was also a member of the American Rose Society, Iowa Rose Society, Des Moines Rose Society, and Iowa Horticulture Society. She was also a consulting rosarion for the State of Iowa and annually evaluated the rose garden at Greenwood Park.
Mary served several terms as President for the Des Moines Rose Society and the S.W. District of the Iowa Rose Society. She also wrote the monthly newsletter for the Des Moines Rose Society for 20 years.
Mary received the Merit and Honor awards from the Iowa Horticulture Society and the Bronze medal from the American Rose Society. Mary had a very artistic eye, she loved flower arranging, especially with roses and taught several classes in arranging.
Among her hobbies were pine cone Christmas wreath making and candle making. Mary took up oil painting shortly before retiring and became quite accomplished. Her paintings are proudly hung in her children’s homes. Mary loved to travel, she had been to Europe twice but her favorite trip was to Alaska. She and her brother flew 4 times to the Bahamas for the day. Mary was an active volunteer for many years arranging flowers in the Mercy Flower shop and tutoring children in reading at Oak Park School.
She is survived by her daughter, Margaret (Mike) Glasscock of Peoria, IL; her son, John (Heidi) Rieff of Plano, Texas; her brother, Jesse Parr of Maxwell, Iowa, and two granddaughters, Amanda Rieff and Samantha Rieff both of Plano, Texas.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at Staves United Methodist Church, 2747 E. Madison, Des Moines, with burial to follow at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Monday, June 23, 2008 at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave. in Des Moines.
Memorial contributions may be made to Staves United Methodist Church or Mercy Hospital Foundation.
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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