Rosie Rivera

Rosie Rivera went to be with her Lord Jesus Christ on Sunday, September 2, 2012. She was 77 years old, the oldest of nine siblings. Rosie was a faithful Christian servant of God upholding her faith in her daily walk with the Lord and trusting Him in everything. She had a blind faith, often giving praise reports how “Jesus healed me,” until the Lord decided to end her suffering and call her home. Rosie was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico on June 8, 1935, but our parents moved to San Jose, CA where Rosie was raised and where she won many beauty contests in her teenage years. After marrying, she moved to Stockton, then returning to Salinas in 1956. Rosie was a very ambitious, out-going person who had a zest for life and was often the life of a family gathering or party. She loved to laugh and make others laugh with her off the wall jokes and quick wit. She was funny! Rosie attended Hartnell College and in her mid-20’s became the first family member to graduate with her AA degree in Nursing, setting the example for her siblings. She was hired at the “County Hospital (now Natividad Medical Center),” where she received her training and eventually worked as a Registered Nurse in ER for 25 years. She loved bandaging-up patients and what would bring “rolling down the cheek” tears to her eyes, was her humblest calling when she would tell us: “Today I saved a life.” Daily we would wait for Rosie to arrive home from work just to hear “her ER stories of the day.” As her younger siblings, we were all very proud of our “family nurse,” whom we went to for all our aches and pains. She was merciless with us! No matter what mishap we’d suffered we knew we would always hear, “See, I told you…you never listen!” Rosie was the firstborn of Victor and Evelyn (Banderas) Rivera. Our mother giving birth to Rosie at the age of 12 and Rosie, giving birth to her miracle baby, her only daughter, Melissa Angelica, at the age of 44. After retirement from her nursing career, Rosie together with her sister Alice, owned and operated Don Felipe’s Authentic Mexican Food Restaurant in Salinas. It was her pride and joy! Rosie loved cooking and bragged “to a fault,” how she taught the younger generation of Rivera women “how to cook,” telling us, “you better pay attention…..see, you can learn!” She loved making salsa for her “male” dialysis nurses and this last week Friday she made 3 tubs of salsa for her favorite nurses at the Salinas Dialysis Center. Her “grandbabies,” Jose Antonio (12) and Jose Luis (11) were her inspiration for living and to keep going on. She eventually moved to Chicago, Illinois for 4 years just to be with her grandbabies and her daughter Melissa. And yes, she spoiled them caringly with a love that only a grandmother could give. Disliking the cold weather and snow, she moved back to Salinas last year, returning to the home of her second cousins, Johnny and Laura Sandoval, who cared for her prior to leaving to Chicago. Their youngest daughter, Rebekah (Bekah), was only 3 years old when Rosie first moved in and saw Rosie as her adopted grandma. Now 15, Bekah only bakes “when she’s in the mood,” the way Grandma Rosie instructed her, “otherwise you’re cakes don’t come out good!” The family of Rosie would like to express the greatest of humblest appreciation to Johnny and Laura Sandoval, who cared for Rosie in their home for a total of 12 years. The sacrifices they made as caregivers were great, but not once did we hear them complain. Laura would often express her love for Rosie by saying, “she’s a blessing…she’s so good to me.” We will never forget what this wonderful couple, our cousins, did for our sister. A true example of Christian (and family) love. Also, the Salinas Dialysis Center for their wonderful care of Rosie and Dr. Dicus for becoming like a family friend and for expressing care and compassion till Rosie’s last moment. He was with us offering his condolences and support. Thank you Dr. Dicus. Rosie is survived by her daughter Melissa Angelica, her grandchildren: Jose Antonio, Jose Luis and Bekah as well as her siblings: Alice Tabera, Mary Banderas Rivera, Gilbert (Teresa) Rivera, Irene (Edward) Valverde, Helen (Bernardino) Uribe, Richard Rivera, Rudy Rivera and Arthur Henry Rivera; as well as uncles (aunts are all deceased), cousins and numerous nephews and nieces. Rosie is preceded in death by her parents, Victor and Evelyn (Banderas) Rivera and her brother, Victor Rivera, Jr. Visitation will be held Thursday, September 6, 2012 from 4 to 9 p.m., with a Celebration of Life from 6-9pm all at Christ the Rock Church, 61 Sanborn Road, Salinas, CA 93905. Funeral services to take place Friday, September 7, 2012 at 10 a.m., at the Church. Burial to follow services at the Queen of Heaven Cemetery, 18200 Damian Way, Salinas, CA 93907.