Margarita Mama Rivera Born in Lares, Puerto Rico July 1, 1907 Departed at 4:20 am December 22, 2007 and Resided in Phoenix, AZ Margarita Rivera- 100, of Phoenix, AZ, formerly of Lares, Puerto Rico, passed away at the Freedom Plaza Hospice Facility of natural cause?s hours after her arrival. A native of La Isla del Encanto, Puerto Rico, Mama was a homemaker and the wife of Antonio Rivera, a Veteran of the US Army in Puerto Rico who passed away in 1966. Margarita loved to sing, dance and needlepoint. She often did seamstress work to earn extra money. She was an Evangelical Christian. She left PR in 1958 and moved to New York until 1971 when she moved to New Haven, CT. Again, one final destination took her out West to sunny & warm Phoenix AZ in 1995 after a mild heart attack and the cold weather almost took her life. On July 1, 2007 Mama celebrated a milestone, her 100th Birthday. The celebration included many friends and family who traveled far and her favorite music a Mariachi Band, this was a happy occasion for her. She is survived by her daughter Claribel Hearn, 76, of Phoenix, AZ with whom Mama has resided with for 48 years until her last day. Claribel has spent the last 12 years of her retirement nourishing and caring for Mama?s well being. Daughter, Margarita Ruiz, 84, of Tampa, FL, is the one who has the strongest resemblance to Mama; son, Antonio Rivera, 75, of Brooklyn, NY, a loving and caring son; and daughter, Primitiva Colon, 68, of Manhattan, NY. She leaves behind 26 grandchildren who include Yvette Hearn, Thomas Hearn & Juan Garcia with whom she spent most of her years. In addition, she has approximately 40 great grand & great-great grandchildren. Funeral services are 10:00 AM, Monday morning, December 31, 2007 at Best Funeral Home, 9380 West Peoria Avenue, Peoria, AZ 85345. Final interment will be 12:30 PM, Monday, December 31, 2007 at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 North Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, AZ 85024. The family will receive friends from 2:00 PM until 5:00 PM at Best Funeral Home on Saturday afternoon, December 29, 2007 and again on Monday morning, December 31, 2007 from 9:00 AM until service time. Please send all floral arrangements directly to Best Funeral Home. VETERANS FUNERAL CARE 1-800-467-7850.
Share this Tribute
Let the family know you
care by sharing this tributes.
Margarita Rivera
Veterans Funeral Care Margarita Rivera
Leave a condolence
Yvette and Family,
You have my deepest sympathy. May GOD comfort all of you and carry you through during this time of sorrow. She is gone, but not forgotten. The love you have for her, this is where you will find strength.
Love you always,
Ethelyn Gay and Chaz
My love for you is endless and, i will carry your loving memories in my heart. I’m happy knowing your at peace and in a better place. You filled all our lives with joy and happiness. I just thank God that i was given a grandmother like you and, got to enjoy your love for me. I know your up their with the lord looking down on your family and, watching over all of us.
I never had the chance to meet you personally but I did recieve the blessing you placed on this earth, I married your wonderful Great Granddaughter Rosario Jasmine Lopez, I have heard so much about the love and warmth you so often spread out and wanted to tell you that you can be proud of the life you lived and the lives you left, for without you there would be no us, though I am not family in blood, I would not be the man I am without the family I have come to call my own…Thank you and may god reward you with his blessings just as you have rewarded us.. Forever in our hearts… Love Freddy, Rosario ,Beatrice , Freddy Jr and Lorenzo Lopez.
My Dearest Great-grandmother,
It saddens me so deeply that I will never see you again. I can remember your smile your love your gentle voice the very last time I had the blessing of seeing you, Which was so long ago. Mama I want to thank you. You are and always will be the foundation that created such a large family. I know that we will see each other again one day, but until then rest in peace. I will never forget you. On behalf of my family Freddy my husband, Beatrice, Freddy Jr. and Lorenzo your great-great grandchildren My mom Claribel your Granddaughter and all my siblings and their families we want to express our deepest condolences to our entire family. We all love you.
Dear Mama,
Our angel….Although your in a better place, I can’t help but feel pain when I think of the fact that your gone.We were so many miles from each other, but you have always been in my heart.I feel very blessed to have had you in my life and all the wonderful memories of you will never fade. I know your shinning down on us and you will forever be in my heart.Until we meet again…mama.
Rest in the sunset…….
Although I did not have the honor to meet you,one of your dearest grandchild Miche and her loving family, Steven and great-grandchild Matthew is a blessed friend of mine for many years. You have created a legacy by raising the children in your family. The characteristics of the people you leave behind all have a piece of you within them, embedded into the essense of the souls– for they are giving,honorable people with the knowledge that I am sure you “abuela” have passed down to every family member you have touched. May your family have comfort knowing that you are with you true Father, no ailments,just love and peace, attributes that radiated from your mere presence.You are love and missed throughout the US south to the Islands. That is some impact.God needed your assistance the day you rose to the heavens. Always in our prayers and may you always watch over your loved ones for you will forever be missed but your essence will remain.
To my sweet Mama,
I have only the best of memories of our times spent together. My memories of you spending Christmas at our house and, the stories you would tell me and my sisters about your clothes. The times we spent together will always be special part of my life. My love of you and the time spent with you will be etched in my heart. When i think of you, a big smile comes across my lips with hapiness. I know your in a better place and watching over your love ones. love always Baby and josh.
Mama,
I will always remember our times spent together and, i I’m a better person because of you. Sweet memories of you keep me strong,i will always keep you alive in my heart. Love and peace to the rest of our family. Love Gara, Melissa and Baby Louie.
Dear.Great grandma i remember allot of good times when you came out to NewYork.Those are times i am going to miss.Those were the times you caused the entire family to get together.Times like that was a real honor to spend with you grandma i will miss you for now thats why i am not going to tell you goodbye but i will see you later.From your great grandchild Pio Moreta wife Joanna and kids always love you.
Yvette and Family,
Our deepest sympathy and may the Lord comfort you and your family through this difficult time. I have enjoyed grandma?s stories over the past few years.
Paul and Susie Tapia and family
I’ve been blessed to be Yvette Hearn’s friend. We met 01-19-99 in Arizona. She has welcomed me and my family into her family. When Mama passed I felt sad, yet happy that she was well cared for by her daughter Claribel, whom I call Mommy. Her grandaughter, Yvette is just like Mama. Feisty, funny, loving, caring and strong.
Mama will always be in my heart and my family’s heart.
My wife Glorianne and I know that Margarita’s love will always be with you with her caring and guiding. Listen quietly and prayerfully and you will feel her love.
Mama Garo, your teaching, advice and words of wisdom, will be cherished by anyone that got to know you. They will be carried on to our love ones and future ones with the same love and care you always taught. I will never forget our long walks and conversations down and up Mermaid Ave. I will never forget you teaching me the dance of the Vals. You will always live in my heart, your grandson Machito and family.
Titi Claribel, Yvette and Tommy, I want to express my condolence for the physical loss of Grandma. You-My Family rest assure that you have the deepest sympathy from Our Lord, the Son of God, Our Savior. I know every member of our family feel the highest gratitute for the way you all displayed your love and care for Grandma. We all thank you so much for it and you all will be blessed by Our Lord Jesus. So rejoice our hearts because Grandma earned her place with Jesus Our Savior. Amen ElmoenriqueMachitoand Family
Yvette and family my prayers and love go out to you. Carla
Dear Yvette,
Our thoughts are prayers are with you. Please let us know if there is anything we can do.
With love,
Stef and Adrian
My dearest and most cherished Grandmother Mama
You have been the love of my heart for so many years and now you are gone from my sight but not gone in spirit. You leave behind a legacy. You are the ROCK that held this family together as big as it is
Yvette and Family,
Our deepest sympathy goes out to you and your family. In times of sorrow rest on God’s strength to lead you too peace. Take your time and celebrate her life. It helps!!
Nikki and BJ Cannon
Family, my condolences to you. God has allowed Mama to share many years with you, but now she has gone to heaven to spend many more. My thoughts and prayers are with you as you part with the diamond of your family.
Love,
Dee and Family
To the family of Margarita Rivera–My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. Yvette, my deepest sympathy to you, your mom and family. I Love You, Darlene Jones and family
i remember the time when me my mom and ma brothers went out there for her birthday party when she turned 100 we all had such a good time especially her i loved it the best because i got to be with her and i loved it being with her was just such a warm moment because i love her so much the smile on her face just made me so happy and i miss her so much i wish she never had to leave us but i know that she iz in a better place now and u will always be in ma heart. i will never forget u mama i love u with all ma heart and miss u r.i.p mama i love u love always your great great granddaughter tati i love u mama rest in peace!!!!!
I remember the time when me my mom and my brothers went out there for her birthday party when she turned 100 we all had such a good time especially her i loved it the best because i got to be with her and i loved it being with her was just such a warm moment because i love her so much the smile on her face just made me so happy and i miss her so much i wish she never had to leave us but i know that she is in a better place now and u will always be in my heart. I will never forget u mama i love u with all my heart and miss u r.i.p mama i love u. love always your great great granddaughter tati i love u mama rest in peace!!!!!
I remember the time when me my mom and my brothers went out there for her birthday party when she turned 100 we all had such a good time especially her i loved it the best because i got to be with her and i loved it being with her was just such a warm moment because i love her so much the smile on her face just made me so happy and i miss her so much i wish she never had to leave us but i know that she is in a better place now and u will always be in my heart. I will never forget u mama i love u with all my heart and miss u r.i.p mama i love u. love always your great great granddaughter tati i love u mama rest in peace!!!!!
What can i say about a women I`ve never met,But knowing that the way your granddaugter Claribel,spoke about you ,that you are a women,that has seen,has been,and has knowlege how life is to be lived.
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.
Sometimes you wish you can turn back the hands of time to see them one last time to tell them one last time to tell them how much they ment to you,but you didn`t go alone because god has called you to his home.A little bit of everyone went along with you.
Love from all of us
Claribel+fam,Rosie+fam,Jesus+fam,
Jessie+fam,Pio+fam,Jasmin+fam
merrychirstmas
up in heaven god bless.
To Yvette and Family
I Love You like a sister, we have been family for many years. You have my deepest sympathy, I know you loved grandma so much, but God loves her more and he will take good care of her. Take care and any time you need me call me. I’m happy that I got to meet grandma and I will never forget her. Our Thoughts and Prayers are with you and all of your family
Though my heart aches because such a strong magnificent woman was asked to return to heaven I send love and the deepest sympathy on the loss of my beloved great grandmother.