Nov. 26, 1932 – March 5, 2008
Mary Calletto Rife, 75, of Sweet Home died peacefully in her home, March 5, 2007.
She was born Nov. 26, 1932 in Lyons, N.Y to Mary and Sam Calletto.
As a librarian for over 50 years she worked in New Jersey, Michigan and then Oregon. Mary coordinated Children’s Library Services for Kalamazoo Public Library for 30 years. She earned her master’s degree in library science from Western Michigan University. She was passionate about the needs of children and worked all her life to help children appreciate literature, through book selection, children’s services and outreach.
Mrs. Rife touched many lives through storytelling and was the ultimate “Mother Goose.” Many children’s authors and illustrators were encouraged and supported by her efforts. She was instrumental in bringing many of them to Kalamazoo during annual, fall National Children’s Book Week celebrations, over the last 30 years.
Even after retiring to Oregon in 2002, Mrs. Rife continued her tireless devotion to children. She volunteered at Sweet Home and Lebanon libraries, for the Linn County Bookmobile and as a Sunday school teacher at St .Helen’s Catholic Church. She also was instrumental in starting bookmobile services in India.
She and her late husband were active in organic farming and the Belted Galloway Association. They shared a holistic approach to life, health and medicine.
Mrs. Rife’s signature color, purple, reflected her passionate attitude toward life and children’s needs. She put her heart into her work, whether planning an Italian meal, a book signing or arranging for a volunteer to read to children.
Family, friends and community meant a great deal to her. As a devoted grandmother, she sent each grandchild a postcard whenever she traveled and celebrated occasions with lunches, cards and author-signed books. She surrounded herself with interesting people, books, as well as collections of nutcrackers, goats and all things purple.
Mrs. Rife is survived by four stepchildren and their spouses, Spencer Rife and his wife, Lynn, Sandi Leonard and her husband, Joseph, Charlie Rife and his wife, Debbie, and Jamie Rife and his wife, Karen Agopian; Lourene Rife; 16 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She was also a surrogate aunt extraordinaire to the Murphy family’s seven children.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 21 years, Corwin S. Rife.
A memorial Mass will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, at St. Helen’s Catholic Church, 600 6th Ave, Sweet Home. Another service will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, at St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Gobles, Mich.