January 18, 1936 – March 2, 2026
Maribeth “Smidge” (Spelman) Riordan, a resident of Reading for 56 years, passed away at Care One at Wilmington on March 2, 2026. She was 90 years of age.
Smidge was born in San Francisco, California, on January 18, 1936, the daughter of the late Francis C. and Maribeth (Gerbel) Spelman. Smidge attended and graduated with a master’s degree in library science from Stanford University (Palo Alto, CA.). She was a tireless volunteer and lobbied for social justice, including the USDA supplemental program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) as well as Bread for the World. Smidge was also a devoted parishioner of St. Agnes Church in Reading.
Smidge was the devoted wife of the late Michael J. Riordan. Devoted mother of Michael James Riordan and his wife Jody-Kay of RI, Mary Elizabeth “Betsy” Thomas and her husband Richard of NY, and Timothy R. Riordan and his wife Sophia Milas of Arlington. Cherished grandmother of 7 and cherished great-grandmother of 2. Dear sister of the late Francis A. Spelman and his late wife, Kay (Durkee) Spelman. Smidge is also survived by several loving nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Agnes Church, 186 Woburn St., Reading, on Monday, March 9, 2026, at 10:30am. Burial is private, and there are no visiting hours.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Smidge’s memory to the Christ the King Parish, 186 Woburn St., Reading, MA. 01867 www.christthekingreading.org
For directions and online guest book, visit www.douglassfuneralhome.com
