Gwendolyn Ann Rigby

Gwendolyn Ann Rigby, 98, of Valhalla, New York, passed away peacefully at home on March 12, 2026.

Born in Mount Vernon, New York, on April 20, 1927, to Mabel V. (née LeHart) and Robert L. Williams, Gwen was baptized at the First Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir and participated in the youth group. Those early experiences shaped a lifelong commitment to her faith. As a teenager she danced with the Danny Harrington dance group, performing at the Glen Island Casino and other local venues, and she remained proud of her tap dancing skills throughout her life. She graduated from A.B. Davis High School in Mount Vernon in 1946.

In 1950 she married the love of her life, William Rigby. Bill predeceased her in 1997. Together they raised four children: David (deceased 2003), Keith, Beth, and Todd. Gwen and Bill were blessed with two cherished grandchildren, Chris (Gabriella) and Katie (Vito), and a beloved great-granddaughter, Isabella.

Family was the center of Gwen’s world. She and Bill created a warm, lively home filled with summers in East Hampton and Amagansett, cookouts at Albert’s Landing with aunts, uncles, and cousins, beach picnics, handmade Halloween costumes, and holiday traditions. A gifted cook, she was known for her legendary macaroni and cheese, potato salad, pot roasts, chocolate chip cookies, gritty fudge icing for her husband, decadent rice pudding, and the warm chocolate tapioca pudding that awaited her children after school. She never drove, instead walking her family everywhere, often trailed by their cat Tiger, whom she gently instructed the children not to encourage. In later years she cared for her grandchildren with the same unconditional love, steady advice, and warm presence that defined her life. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.