Erma J. Riley, 91, of Bedford and Marshfield, passed away on December 1, 2016.

She was the daughter of Italian immigrants, the late Anthony and Daisy Coppi.

She was raised in Somerville and graduated from Somerville High School in 1943. In 1954, she married John Robert Riley at St. Clement Parish in Somerville, MA and settled in Bedford.

While raising her children she went back to school and in 1976 earned a bachelor's degree in Sociology from Northeastern University and embarked on a career in health and human services. She worked as a licensed social worker for the American Red Cross providing disaster relief and support for military families.

She enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, playing bridge classic movies, traveling and above all spending time with family and friends.

She is survived by her children Nancy Herrig of Canton, Kathleen Riley and her husband Stephen Rochinski of Marshfield, Lisa Fogler and her husband Gerard Fogler of Bruyere-le-Chatel, France and John R. Riley Jr. and his wife Donna Arpoika-Riley of Las Vegas, NV. She was the cherished grandmother of Ryan, Evan, Kerry, Elise, David, Alexandra, Seana and Kayla as well as 2 step grandchildren and five step great grandchildren in France. She was the beloved cousin of Janet Dimodica of Melrose and Janice Sarno of Lexington.

Funeral services will be held at the Bedford Funeral Home, 167 Great Rd., Bedford, MA on Monday, December 5, at 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer's Association of Massachusetts, 480 Pleasant St, Watertown, MA 02472 www.alz.org/manh.