Judith Ann (Riley) Little

North Greenbush - Judith Ann Riley Little, 72, died Thursday, May 28, 2026 at  an Rensselaer Manor after a long illness. 
 
Judy was born and raised in Albany;  the daughter of the late Peter Charles Riley IV and Emilie Marie King Riley. As a child she attended St. James for grammar school,  Vincentian Institute for high school, and then Russell Sage College where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. She started her career working with various social services and welfare funds. She self-learned computer programming and then worked for Filene's and eventually Kay-Bee Toys for years. Over the course of her working life, until disability cut it short, she had relocated to many places between New York and Massachusetts.

Growing up, her siblings describe her as very artistic and talented; a “master seamstress” who sewed prom dresses and her own curtains for her room. She was a baker, known for making oatmeal raisin cookies (even without the raisins for the siblings who didn’t particularly care for the dried fruit!). She was brave in the face of danger, with stories of her giggling while hanging onto the side of the car door she accidentally opened in her dad's new convertible in the middle of a drive! 
 
As an adult, she held strong religious values and beliefs, and continued to always face challenges head on, even when she had her own demons to deal with. She was funny with a quirky sense of humor and enjoyed music, coloring, and watching game shows and CSI. Her children remember how much she supported their passions and how she was always their number one fan. She had a big heart that she shared with many but not one person ever doubted that her children and her grandchildren were her whole world. 

Survivors include her children, Robert (Victoria) Hayner Jr. and Marilyn (Dennis) VanAmburgh; her grandchildren, Audrey and Abigail VanAmburgh; her siblings, Elizabeth Riley, Michael (Barbara) Riley, and Marilyn (William) VonDollen; her sister-in-law, Marie Riley; her aunt, Marilyn Duchemin; her uncle, John King, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.  She was predeceased by her beloved brother Peter Charles Riley V, and her previous husband Albert Little.  
 
Relatives and friends may call at the Bryce Funeral Home, Inc. at 276 Pawling Avenue Troy on Tuesday June 2nd from 4pm to 7pm. 
 
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 35 Adams Place, Delmar with Rev. Matthew Duclos, Pastor on Wednesday, June 3rd at 9am.  
                 
Interment will be in St.Agnes Cemetery, Menands. 
 
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Judith Ann Riley Little to the National Alliance on Mental Illness at https://www.nami.org/personal-giving/memorial-and-honorary-giving/ or mail to 150 Broadway Suite 406, Menands, NY 12204.  We recommend using the brycefuneralhome.com website to share or send condolences, light a candle, view videos, or for service directions. 

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