Mary Rives Risinger

Mary Rives Risinger became a heavenly angel on Friday, May 8, 2026. She passed away at Holy Angels Residential Facility surrounded by the love she had known there for over 58 years. She was 73 years old.

Mary was born on Dec 18th, 1952, the first child of Mary Lane and Marlin Risinger. Her brother Mac (Marlin III) arrived two years later, followed quickly by sister Jane. She landed in a family well-supplied with love, fortitude, determination and humor and she learned early on that life was mostly a joy to be lived.

Mary lived at home and attended Summer Street Co Operative school in her early years. Summer Street provided a nurturing, loving environment for those with special needs. Miraculously, shortly after Summer Street had to close, Holy Angels appeared. Mary arrived at Holy Angels when she was 14. In this beautiful setting, surrounded by the sisters, she found a home away from home. Summers, holidays and vacations were spent with the family on Delaware Street for many years, as well as Sunday afternoons.

Mary was completely enchanted by our mother who had quite a personality and with the examples set by her, Mary developed a hilarious sense of humor and wit, as well as the family tendency to speak up for herself very frankly and point her finger to add emphasis. She was most often seen with a big smile on her face and usually had something ridiculously clever to say accompanied by an equally funny expression. She had an unusual imagination capable of putting ideas together in a way that seemed almost believable to those of us with more mundane ways of seeing things, including the idea that all of our deceased cats (as well as our deceased parents in later years) controlled the weather.

Mary’s life was filled with the love of two families. Her birth family and all who spent time at the home on Delaware Street and her family at Holy Angels, particularly the staff. For many years she lived in the care of the nuns who calmly, confidently and lovingly helped each resident reach and exceed their potential and feel a sense of self confidence. Later, under the guidance of Laurie Boswell and many others, Mary continued to thrive, enjoying every activity, especially sewing and knitting, and every event, particularly the Taste of Shreveport, the Angel Run and the visit to the State Fair. She was guided gently into her later years and careful decisions were made by the staff to help her remain content as she grew older.

Mary was predeceased by her devoted father in 2002 and more recently, by her beloved mother in 2023. She is survived by her brother Marlin Risinger III and his wife Lori of Jackson Hole, Wyoming and by her sister Jane Risinger Good and her husband, Bruce, of Fredericksburg, Texas. She is also survived by her “sons”, her five nephews, Ben Good (Megan) of Boone, NC., Alan Good (Adrien) of Nashville, TN., Nathan Risinger (Ashley) New York City , Devin Risinger (Maggie) Bronxville, NY, and Thomas Risinger (Lindsay) of New York City. Also, adoring great nieces Emma Jane Good and Lucy Marie Good of Nashville and Marjorie Fela Risinger of Bronxville, New York and great nephew Ellis June Risinger of New York City. Mary dearly loved her family and she was most dearly loved by all of us.

A service will be held in All Saints Chapel at Holy Angels on Friday, May 22 at 10:00 am. A reception will follow in the Madonna Hall gym. The family would like to thank the staff at Holy Angels for every moment that was spent with Mary. Each moment was a gift not only to her, but also to our family. We would like to thank Dranell Whitaker for helping Mary and our family during home visits these last few years and also Christy at Willis Knighton Hospice for guiding us all through these last few months.

Finally, the family asks that any donation in Mary Rives’ memory be directed to Holy Angels Residential Facility in Shreveport.