Riley Warren

Riley Anne Warren Resident of Pleasant Hill Riley was born in Sacramento, California on May 13, 1962. She attended Thomas Jefferson Grammar School, and graduated from St. Mary's Grammar School, St. Francis High School, and the University of California, Los Angeles (Art History Major). Riley's career was in advertising. In 1986, she began work at Chiat/Day Advertising (who introduced the Apple computer in the famous "1984" Super Bowl ad). When her company acquired Anderson & Lembke, in 1989, Riley rose to the position of Operations Director. In 1999 Riley was one of the founding eleven members of Eleven, Inc. a San Francisco advertising firm. She was Director of Operations until her retirement in 2005. Riley was preceded in death by her twin brothers and her father, Harry Warren. She is survived by her son, Cameron, her former husband, Richard Shearer, her mother, Phyllis Warren, her brothers Mark (Janet), Phil (Elaine), and Tim (Sue). Riley's nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews are too numerous to name! Additionally, Riley is survived by her posse of friends in Pleasant Hill and the nearby communities. Their fierce strength, care and support surrounded Riley and give witness, form and example to the meaning of the word love. A final debt is owed Dr. Matthew Sirott and the staff at Diablo Valley Oncology whose love, human touch and healing skills kept her disease at bay for almost two decades. Matthew Sirott has been an honorary member of Riley's family for over 17 years. Riley was truly the "mayor" of that organization giving Dr. Sirott fashion tips, and knowing the nurses and infusion staff and their childrens' names. Cancer never defeated Riley. She crashed through roadblocks and setbacks and never lost her outrageous humor and razor wit. She was strong, and happy and without pain right to the final act. The doctors at Stanford were dazzled by her persistence and strength. And she does indeed set the bar high for what it means to live fully and embrace the world around you. She defines what it means to be a woman of strength and poise and character. Riley's strong heart finally rested on the evening of July 23. Surrounded by family she went forward to her next adventure. Though separated by death, we will never be apart. Riley Anne's life will be celebrated in a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Ignatius Church, 3235 Arden Way, Sacramento, California on September 14th, 2013 at 10:00 AM with a reception immediately following in the Parish Hall. Donations in her name can be made to Cancer Support Community in Walnut Creek (www.cancersupportcommunity.net) or KQED public Broadcasting (www.kqed.org/donate/gateway.jsp). Finally, a reader of epic proportion (300 + books in the last 14 months), as was her wish, Riley's corneas were donated to the California Transplant Donor Network. Fortunate indeed will be the person who sees the world through her eyes.