Noreen Mulhern Riley

Noreen Mulhern Riley (nee Noreen Joan Virgulti), 94, of Bristol, PA, passed away peacefully on November 20, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Conshohocken, PA, on August 13, 1931, Noreen was the daughter of the late Catherine and Agostino Virgulti. She was a 1949 graduate of Bristol High School in Bristol, PA.

Noreen spent her early years in Conshohocken, PA where her late parents married after immigrating from Ascoli Piceno, Italy. In their teenage years, Noreen and her late sisters Barbara, Eleanor and Sylvia assisted their parents in the family business, The Wood Street Café in Bristol where Noreen met her future husband, John Joseph Mulhern. Married 32 years, they created a beautiful family of 7 children: John, Maureen Prewitt (Michael), Daniel (Lori), Kathleen Carey (Steve), Colleen Riccio Gorman (late Robert Riccio) (Joseph Gorman), Patrick (Dawn), Noreen Daniels (Kent); 15 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

Following the passing of her beloved John, Noreen had 25 happy years of marriage, travel and church and community service with Thomas Joseph Riley. Noreen cherished her 10 Riley stepchildren: the late Thomas (Christine), the late Gregory (Sandy), Dennis (Rosie), Patrick, Michael, Matthew (Kathy), Gerard (Nancy), Timothy (Catherine), Lisa Keenan (Paul) and Jeanmarie Coppola (Randy); 22 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.

Noreen instilled in her family an appreciation of the basic pleasures in life: Time and food with those we love; Sunday dinners with extended family; Deep friendships; A home for friends in need; Music; Reading; World travel with spouse and friends; Cape May with ALL the cousins.

She loved St. Mark church and served in many ways: as CCD principal, as Eucharistic minister, as manager and lead cook for the annual Paschal Meal, and as a faithful member of the Monday morning counting crew.

She loved Bristol and her river: championing historic preservation efforts in town, through the Bristol Boro Historical and Cultural Society.

She loved those who made her life fun and comfortable in infirmity: her dear companion Yolanda, caregivers Jessie, Suzi and Nancy, and the Chandler Hall hospice team: RN Teri, aide Lori and massage therapist Dorothy.

Above all, Noreen loved Jesus. She passed on to generations her Catholic faith and traditions, as much by her example as by her words. This is her most important legacy.

Visitation will be held on Friday, December 5, 2025 from 6-8 PM at the Wade Funeral Home, 1002 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, PA 19007. An additional visitation hour will be held Saturday, December 6 from 9:30-10:30 am in the funeral home. Her Funeral Mass will follow at 11:00AM at Saint Mark Church, Bristol. Interment, Resurrection Cemetery, Bensalem. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mark Church and School, 1024 Radcliffe St, Bristol, PA 19007.