Felicita Rivera, 85, of Plainview, passed away on Tuesday, February 12, 2013, at home, surrounded by her family. A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, February 15, 2013, at Lemons Memorial Chapel, with Rev. Guadalupe Moreno officiating. Interment will follow the service in Plainview Memorial Park. Funeral service arrangements are under the direction of Lemons Funeral Home of Plainview. Open visitation will be from 12:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., on Thursday, February 14, 2013, at the funeral home.
Felicita Alvarez Rivera was born on May 1, 1927, in Macamen, Texas to Manuel and Blaza (Tenorio) Alvarez. She and David Rivera were married in July of 1986 in Plainview. Through her life, Felicita worked at Walker Bros. and Griffin and Brand Produce Packing, but her true gift was as a seamstress. Felicita was blessed with rare talent and creativity for making anything when it came to clothing. She could examine clothes in the store, make a pattern for it with newspaper, and make the exact same item at home. She made many different types of dresses, quilts and blue jeans for her family, and baby quilts for her new grandchildren. She even made boxers for her husband. Felicita was a great cook and would prepare large meals for the holidays. She gardened and took exceptional care of her flowers, plants, and rose bushes. Her favorite color was purple or lilac in all shades. Felicita particularly enjoyed watching novellas or 'her stories' as she called them. She deeply loved her family and was loved in return. She will be greatly missed.
Felicita was a member of Iglesia de Nazareno.
Felicita was preceded in death by her first husband, Vicente Rodriguez, on December 11, 1973; her parents; a daughter, Martina Martinez; three infant children; three grandsons; and one great-great-grandson. She is survived by her husband, David Rivera, of Plainview; her children: Diego and his wife, Alicia; Basilia; Domingo and his wife, Ramona; Mary and her husband, Julian; Felia and her husband, Martin; San Juanita (Smiley) and her husband, Alvin; Inocencio and his wife, Oralia; Vicente and his wife, Joann; Vicenta and her husband, Ray; Manuela; Sara; Becky and her husband, Cornelio; and Steven and his wife, Michelle; 61 grandchildren; 132 great-grandchildren; and 26 great-great-grandchildren.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Interim Hospice for their exceptional care of Felicita.