She was born on July 3, 1929, the daughter of Hugh and Leona (Coyle) Vincent.
Rheba attended Saint Elizabeth’s Motherhouse Private School in Allegany, New York and graduated from Wellsville High School in 1947 where she made many friends. Rheba enjoyed working at Bell Telephone in Wellsville until she married.
On November 25, 1951, Rheba married Constantine (Gus) Rigas in Wellsville and together they raised five children. In addition, she selflessly cared for many of her aging relatives and was always looking out for others. Rheba had a heart of gold and made sure that her children’s friends were always welcomed into their home.
In 1981, Rheba and Gus moved to Florida and opened the Green Onion Restaurant. Rheba was an avid golfer and belonged to the Wellsville, Imperial, Quail Creek, and Naples Country Clubs. As a member of those clubs, Rheba organized many social gatherings and events and made many lifelong friends. She also enjoyed supporting Gus, who was the Chairman of the Allegany County Democratic Committee, by hosting parties for many local, regional and national democratic candidates. She most enjoyed hosting get-togethers for her family and friends, especially during the holidays. Rheba had a very special bond with her “bridge club gang” and their families, creating remarkable lifelong memories.
Rheba was an active volunteer throughout her life and started Meals-On-Wheels in Allegany County. She meticulously maintained four properties, two in New York and two in Florida. Rheba loved doing yardwork and spent countless hours weeding and planting flowers. She always remembered special occasions, birthdays, and anniversaries of her family and many friends.
Rheba is pre-deceased by her parents, her husband Gus, her sisters-in-law Mary Hastas and Doris Rigas, brothers-in-law James Hastas and William Pallas, and her daughter-in-law Aileen Rigas.
Rheba was very proud of and loved to talk about her very large family, especially since she was raised an only child. She is survived by her two step-sisters, Sandra (Sid) Cleveland and Marilyn (Louie) Gordon, step-brother Roger Vincent, brother-in-law John J. Rigas, sister-in-law Katherine R. Pallas, and children, son James R. Rigas, daughter Diana R. (Steven) Pease, son John C. (Cheryl) Rigas, daughter Katherine C. (Philip) Chin, and son Christopher C. (Elizabeth) Rigas, and grandsons Andrew, James, Timothy, Alexander, William, Jamie, Paul and Nial, granddaughters Jennifer, Liz, Kerry, Sara, Erica, Katie, Anne, Eleni and Dina, and great-grandchildren Travis, Andrew, Kelsey, Mia, Shirlyn, Felicity, Lexi, Hendrick, Shiree, Natalie, Adam, Angela, Luke, Ellington, Brayson, Theo, Maddox and Sophie.
There will be a private burial service at St. Joseph’s Cemetery
in Scio. In lieu of flowers, donations
can be made to the Wellsville Central School Gus Rigas Scholarship Fund, to be
presented each year to a Wellsville High School graduate. To leave online
condolences please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.
