June Beverly Riss Dobbs Ferry, New York Obituary

June Beverly Riss

June Beverly Riss, gifted musician, committed gardener, avid reader and loving wife, loving mother and grandmother, died peacefully in her sleep on Monday at the home of her son, Paul H. Riss, in White Plains, N.Y. Mrs. Riss was born on May 30, 1927, the fourth child of Herman and Emily Arndt Flechtner of Meriden, Ct. She had an older brother, Rev. Robert Flechtner, and two older sisters, Louise Dicksen and Arlene Gritz, who predeceased her. Her younger sister, Virginia Spintzyk of Anton, Texas, survives her. In an era when it was still uncommon for women to attend college, Mrs. Riss graduated with a diploma in piano in 1950 and a B.S. in organ in 1962 from the Julliard School of Music in New York City, studying under the guidance of Josef Raieff and Vernon deTar. While still at home in Meriden, she met Paul Riss, also of Meriden, on his return from service in the occupation of Japan. They were married June 27, 1948. Soon after that, Paul responded to a call to ministry in the Lutheran Church in America. They moved to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, for two years of his seminary training, where their son, Timothy, was born. After graduation, they moved to Yorktown Heights, N.Y., where their son, Paul H., was born. After founding St. Andrews Lutheran Church in 1955, where they served as the congregation's first pastor and organist, they moved to Greenwich Village in New York City, where their son, Peter, was born. They lived in Mineola, N.Y. for two years and then moved to Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., with Paul serving in a variety of pastoral positions. June regularly found employment as a church organist, including Trinity Lutheran Church in Manhattan, Redeemer Lutheran Church in the Bronx, Gustavus Adolphus Church in Manhattan, First Presbyterian Church in Mineola, the United Methodist Church in Ardsley, N.Y., Second Reformed Church in Tarrytown, N.Y., and the United Methodist Church in Pleasantville, N.Y. In 1969 she began working as a legal secretary in Manhattan and was employed first by Jackson & Nash and then at Hall, McNicol, Hamilton, Clark & Murray. She also gave private piano lessons in her home. Her husband, the Rev. Dr. Paul Riss died on Jan. 1, 2003. The Riss home was always blessed with the sounds of spiritual and secular music; Paul was an excellent vocalist and he and June encouraged their children to sing and play instruments. All remain avid amateur singers, songwriters and instrumentalists. A devout Christian, she also welcomed into her home and into her family, people of other faiths who instantly, gratefully and continuously were warmed by her hospitality and generous spirit. In addition to her sons, she is survived by her beloved grandchildren: Peter Riss, Jr., and Bobby Riss, of Dobbs Ferry; Jon Riss, of Philadelphia; Sam Riss, of Hicksville, N.Y.; and Jacob and Becky Riss of White Plains; by her sister, Virginia Spintzyk; by her dear sister-in-law, Eugenia Riss of Ossining; daughter-in-law Genie Abrams of Newburgh; and by all who were lifted by her music and her life. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 11 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in White Plains, followed by interment at Walnut Grove Cemetery in Meriden, Ct. Visiting Wednesday November 9, 2-4 & 7-9 P.M. Edwards-Dowdle Funeral Home, The family requests that gifts in lieu of flowers be made to Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church or to Hicksville United Methodist Church.
May 30, 1927 - October 31, 201105/30/192710/31/2011
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Obituary

June Beverly Riss, gifted musician, committed gardener, avid reader and loving wife, loving mother and grandmother, died peacefully in her sleep on Monday at the home of her son, Paul H. Riss, in White Plains, N.Y. Mrs. Riss was born on May 30, 1927, the fourth child of Herman and Emily Arndt Flechtner of Meriden, Ct. She had an older brother, Rev. Robert Flechtner, and two older sisters, Louise Dicksen and Arlene Gritz, who predeceased her. Her younger sister, Virginia Spintzyk of Anton, Texas, survives her. In an era when it was still uncommon for women to attend college, Mrs. Riss graduated with a diploma in piano in 1950 and a B.S. in organ in 1962 from the Julliard School of Music in New York City, studying under the guidance of Josef Raieff and Vernon deTar. While still at home in Meriden, she met Paul Riss, also of Meriden, on his return from service in the occupation of Japan. They were married June 27, 1948. Soon after that, Paul responded to a call to ministry in the Lutheran Church in America. They moved to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, for two years of his seminary training, where their son, Timothy, was born. After graduation, they moved to Yorktown Heights, N.Y., where their son, Paul H., was born. After founding St. Andrews Lutheran Church in 1955, where they served as the congregation's first pastor and organist, they moved to Greenwich Village in New York City, where their son, Peter, was born. They lived in Mineola, N.Y. for two years and then moved to Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., with Paul serving in a variety of pastoral positions. June regularly found employment as a church organist, including Trinity Lutheran Church in Manhattan, Redeemer Lutheran Church in the Bronx, Gustavus Adolphus Church in Manhattan, First Presbyterian Church in Mineola, the United Methodist Church in Ardsley, N.Y., Second Reformed Church in Tarrytown, N.Y., and the United Methodist Church in Pleasantville, N.Y. In 1969 she began working as a legal secretary in Manhattan and was employed first by Jackson & Nash and then at Hall, McNicol, Hamilton, Clark & Murray. She also gave private piano lessons in her home. Her husband, the Rev. Dr. Paul Riss died on Jan. 1, 2003. The Riss home was always blessed with the sounds of spiritual and secular music; Paul was an excellent vocalist and he and June encouraged their children to sing and play instruments. All remain avid amateur singers, songwriters and instrumentalists. A devout Christian, she also welcomed into her home and into her family, people of other faiths who instantly, gratefully and continuously were warmed by her hospitality and generous spirit. In addition to her sons, she is survived by her beloved grandchildren: Peter Riss, Jr., and Bobby Riss, of Dobbs Ferry; Jon Riss, of Philadelphia; Sam Riss, of Hicksville, N.Y.; and Jacob and Becky Riss of White Plains; by her sister, Virginia Spintzyk; by her dear sister-in-law, Eugenia Riss of Ossining; daughter-in-law Genie Abrams of Newburgh; and by all who were lifted by her music and her life. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 11 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in White Plains, followed by interment at Walnut Grove Cemetery in Meriden, Ct. Visiting Wednesday November 9, 2-4 & 7-9 P.M. Edwards-Dowdle Funeral Home, The family requests that gifts in lieu of flowers be made to Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church or to Hicksville United Methodist Church.

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