Eileen Julia Rivera

Eileen Julia Rivera, 72, of Seminole, FL, passed away on Sunday, April 2, 2017, at Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater, FL.  She was born in Cincinnati, OH and moved to North Miami Beach, FL at the age of 3.  She moved to Seminole, FL in 1970.

Eileen graduated from Notre Dame Academy and then went to beautician school.  She spent many years working at both the Square D and Paradyne companies as a line worker in the manufacturing departments.

It was in Miami that she met her first husband and had her first son, Paul. Later she met and married John Rivera, and had four more sons, Christopher, Scott, Mark and Stephen.  She was a loving mother who took them to parks, movies, doctors appointments, she enjoyed cooking for them.

Eileen was also a loving sister, a loving grandmother and a loving mother-in-law.  She loved spending time with her grandchildren. She enjoyed watching television, reading books and going to movies. She also greatly loved her daughters in law, Barbara Knapp, Tonya Rivera and Shannon Rivera, like they were her own.

She was preceded in death by her; parents, Joseph and Kathryn Wittekind; her brothers, Howard and Harold Wittekind; her sister, Joyce Hlis; and her husband, John Rivera.  She is survived by her sons, Paul, Christopher, Scott, Mark and Stephen; sister, Kathryn Imrisek; grandchildren, Kristi (Paul & Barb), Brandon and Bryce (Scott & Tonya); one great-granddaughter on the way, Kylie (daughter of Kristi); many nieces and nephews; and many friends.

Eileen is now at peace and back with the love of her life, John.  She will be missed dearly by her family and friends.

Services will be held on Saturday, April 8, 2017, at St. Matthews Catholic Church, 9111 90^th Ave North, Largo, FL 33777.  A gathering will commence at 9:30AM and a Funeral Mass will be conducted at 10:30AM.  She will be interred with her husband at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, 5233 118^th Ave North, Clearwater, FL.