Lil Riley Obituary

Nearly 30 years ago I had the privilege to meet Lil flying on an airplane from LAX to HNL. She was telling me about how she had just finished a visit to her grandchildren in Whittier, Ca. She indicated that they attended Catholic school and I shared I was also in Catholic education. As we sipped our cocktail and chatted, she turned and asked, "What exactly do you do?" I replied, " I am a Catholic priest and I teach and administrate in our Catholic secondary schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. She whipped around in her seat and stated empatically, "Then, why are you not coming to Kauai so that my pastor can take a vacation." I turned just as quickly, stating: "Because, I just now met you!" We laughed! The next summer as I completed my MA in Educational Admin at USF it had been arranged that I would come parish sit for the summer the beautiful parish of St. Raphael in Koloa. Hawaii became my dream vacation spot and I made many friends there. I still return when I can. It looks like I may have a wedding there at St. Raphael in August 2026 and I will look forward to going once again should the timing work out.

I would always see Lil and others in the pews when I returned to the parish for Sunday mass or at the many breakfast places nearby. I always loved, "Joe's" Lil, thanks for "forcing" me to come spend a summer in Kauai as I will never forget it, or you! God bless you as you run into the arms of Jesus! With love and prayers. --Fr. Mark A. Strader of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles