“Mami Jo” leaves a legacy and warm memories of her deep love for family, hospitable and generous nature, loyal care and great cooking. Her love and commitment to family was most clearly displayed and remembered in her family dinners. Josephine hosted weekly family dinners where she most naturally showed her loving nature through the tedious long hours of dedicated cooking and preparation, all in order to bring her family around the dinner table to laugh, talk and just be together.
Josephine “Mami Jo” Echerri Rivera was born in Trinidad, Cuba on November 11, 1936. After spending her formative childhood years in her home country of Cuba, her mother sent her away to the United States. Leading up to and during the time Josephine made the big move to the United States, political unrest was building in Cuba. The growing tension Josephine’s mother sensed would only a few years later erupt into a violent revolution that would scar the beautiful land Josephine had known as a child.
By God’s grace and Josephine’s mother’s discernment, Josephine arrived in New York City. She stayed with her sister and began adjust in to her new home. Even though she was uprooted from the life she had known in Cuba, Josephine’s strong character and love of family led her to preserve her culture, language and cooking. In New York City she met her husband Julio “Jay” Rivera, a dedicated World War II, Korean war and Vietnam War Veteran. Julio and Josephine were married on September 2, 1960. Together Jay and Josephine had 4 daughters. In 1974 they moved to Miami as a family where they lived close to 30 years. For the past 7 years, Jay and Josephine have resided in St Petersburg, Florida.
Josephine’s joy was to see her family grow even her daughter’s friends became her kids too. The same for her grandchildren. Anyone she befriended became instant family.
Josephine leaves behind her husband, Jay Rivera who is 95 years old, daughters, Joyce, Jane, Rebecca and Jessica, grandchildren, great grandchildren and beloved family friends.
Her family and those who had the privilege of knowing her, will always remember her warm smile, strength, and love for those around her. They will remember how blessed they were to have spent those times around the dinner table and the welcoming embrace of her company.
There will be a private burial at Miami Memorial Park in Miami, Florida.
There will be “Celebration of Life Service” for Josephine on Saturday, August 28, 2021 at the Feather Sound Church, 13880 Feather Sound Drive, Clearwater, Florida starting at 11:00 AM.
