Carmen Luisa Rivera, age 81, passed away Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at The Meridian. She was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico on December 9, 1939. Carmen and family moved to America when she a pre-teen. They settled in Bronx, N.Y. where Carmen became a wife and mother. After having raised her children, she became a Certified Nurse’s Aide for 20 years.
Our mother was raised Catholic, but later became a Christian. She loved her Lord and Savior and going to church. She enjoyed praying for people and bringing souls to the Lord. I asked her how she knew who to approach. Her response was “The Lord told me to go to that one.” Mom witnessed to people in the subway’s of New York City, restaurant’s, airplane’s, hospital’s and neighbor’s. She even had a prayer book where she divided into two. One side was Prayer Request’s. She had a yellow smiley face on all the prayer’s that were answered. The other half of the book was titled Souls For The Lord. On that side were the names of the person she lead to the Lord, where it was done and a date.
Mother was a great mother, grandmother, aunt and sister. She’d literally give you the coat off her back and was always willing to help. Oh, and how she loved to visit with people. While on vacation, she’d hold us up just stopping and starting to talk to someone. She knew no stranger. People were so receptive to her.
Carmen would’ve been 82 today. She asked the Lord to take her on her birthday. Mom thought it would be neat to pass on the day she was born. On the Monday prior to passing, her daughter Lizette released her. Liz’s husband Ricky told Carmen, and if you see the light, the Lord or an angel, don’t wait until the the 9th, go. Mom didn’t get her wish, however, her son Jimmy wanted to have her memorial on her actual birthday. You kinda got your wish mom.
She was preceded in death by her father Maximo Rivera, mother Laura Rivera, brother Angel Rivera, and granddaughter Arianna McDonnell.
She is survived by her brother Ramon Rivera and sister Mary Hernandez; children Jose Rivera and wife Janiet, Lizette Adams and husband Ricky, Jimmy Rivera and wife Maria, Zchantell McDonnell and husband Jimmy; grandchildren Marcus and Mason Retting, Anothny and Bryran Rivera, James and Dean Rivera, Sophia McDonnnell; Nephew Eric Perez, Niece Lori Hernandez, Pamela Breijo and Becky Rivera.
A memorial service will be held at J. Levy & Termini Funeral Home on Thursday, December 9, 2021 at 2:00 P.M., with Reverend Aaron Sanders officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the memorial service beginning at 1:00 P.M. There will be no funeral as mom wanted to be cremated and her ashes will be interred at Lakeview Cemetery in Galveston, Texas.
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