Gloria Rivera

Gloria M. Rivera peacefully graduated to be with her Lord and Savior on January 31, 2022, as her daughters held her hands. She was surrounded by her son, grandchildren, great grandchildren in the days prior to her passing. 

She was born on February 6, 1929 in Colmor NM. Our mom’s favorite job was working at Camp Pendleton, right outside Fallbrook, CA, at the Ammunition Depot. She worked as a short-order cook in Bonsall, CA where she developed a love of cooking. Her specialty was making pies. The family favorites were apple and peach. She loved picking chokecherries and made the best chokecherry jam as well as apricot, strawberry and peach jams.

Our mom and dad loved to dance and won a dance contest. She had a love of dancing and music, which seemed she was born with and passed it on to her kids (music that is). She had a machine that converted cassettes into CD’s, and you’d find her converting her cassettes. She enjoyed a wide range of genres, from gospel to bluegrass, western, Spanish, and beyond. 

She had to leave her beautiful “The Ranch”, located in Ocate, NM when her beloved son Ron died. She spent many years there enjoying family and friends and often reminisced about all the good memories that were made there. She then came to live with her daughter and son-in-law in Santa Fe.

She accepted the Lord in 1978. She said she couldn’t do anything without first reading her bible and her devotions first thing in the morning. Her little sayings were “keep your eyes on the Lord” and “bendito sea Dios (blessed be God)” and ``God loves you and so do I”, Many times saying goodbye she’d say “Hasta la vista, baby!”

Our mom is preceded in death by her parents Jose and Abelina Martinez, her beloved husband Conrado Rivera Jr., whom she married on April 23, 1949 in Springer NM, her son Ron Rivera, grandchildren Kenneth McDowell Jr. and Suzetter Burke, siblings Cleo Jaramillo, Vita Martinez, and Timoteo Martinez and her special niece “my manita” Josie Garcia. She is survived by her children, Diane McDowell, Joe Rivera (Elizabeth), Robert Rivera (Linda), David Rivera (companion Dawn), and Anita Burke (Iver). She adored her extended family which included 14 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.

She has been a role model for her family and friends by exhibiting such strength, grace, courage and bravery and humor throughout her life. She’ll be deeply missed and forever loved by all who knew her.

A celebration of life will be held at The Light at Mission Viejo Church, 4601 Mission Bend (Richards Ave.), Santa Fe, NM on Thursday,  March 24, 11:00am reception following. Interment will follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 2:15pm.

Our family would like to thank Ambercare for making our mom's passing peaceful. We would like to thank everyone who has offered their prayers and support during this difficult time.