Raul M Rivera

On August 1, 2015, the Lord called Raul M. Rivera home to his celestial family at the age of 84 years old. He was born on April 20, 1931 in Saltillo, Mexico and raised in Monterrey, Mexico as the eldest son. He was proceeded in death by his parents Felipe S. Rivera and Celia M. Rivera and 5 siblings, Felipe (baby), Mario, Gloria and a second brother Felipe. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Milagros R. Rivera and his daughter, Victoria M. Rivera, son Raul J. Rivera and his wife Patricia, daughter Patricia Gaitán and her husband Miguel, son Mario A. Rivera and his wife Maria Guadalupe. Raul is also survived by his grandchildren, Ryan, Christian, Jacqueline, Giselle, Lucas, Michael and Gabrielle. He also leaves his youngest brother, Marco Antonio Rivera, his wife Oralia and their daughters, Lalys, Veronica and America. As a favorite uncle, he will be missed by many nieces and nephews in Mexico and the U.S.

Raul pursued Civil Engineering studies at the University of Nuevo Leon in Monterrey. He began his American adventure in 1957 when two American cousins, Manuel and Antonio Morales, both American Veterans of Foreign Wars, sponsored him to come live in the United States. Houston, Texas became his home where he brought his new bride raised his family and designed and built his family home. He proudly became an American citizen in 1979.

He began his professional career as a designer for an architect and then as a designer/draftsman at the Texas Highway Department. After pursuing new opportunities at Columbia Gulf Transmission Co., Raul eventually transitioned to a long career in the petrochemical industry working 15 years at Dow Chemical and other engineering firms as Sr. Piping Designer and Project Manager. While home was deep in the heart of Texas, his career permitted him to live briefly in Michigan, Canada, Louisiana, Brazil and Venezuela, which he particularly loved. He was a charter member of the Society of Piping Engineers and Designers for a long span of his career. After retiring, he discovered a new artistic talent in his 60’s and began painting on canvas. While enjoying painting, he also began designing homes and made the American dream of a home ownership possible for many. During this time, he taught himself CAD in his early 70’s.

Raul had a wonderful singing voice and played guitar. As a young man in Monterrey, he and two friends formed a trio while in college and would earn their spending money giving romantic serenades. He and his wife, Milagros joined the Movimiento Familiar Cristiano (MFC) over 50 years ago and served as the Galveston-Houston Diocesan Co-Presidents from 1972-1975 and as National Co-Presidents from 1975-1978. During their tenure as National Presidents, they received a Papal Blessing from Pope Paul VI for their work in the MFC. During their years in the MFC and as parishioners of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, they met many of their valued and lifelong friends.

In addition to his interest in music and artistic painting (as a late bloomer), he enjoyed chess, traveling and gathering with friends and family over an excellent meal. Raul loved baseball and was a big Houston Astros fan. He had a wonderful sense of humor, loved to tell his story and was always generous with his advice, especially about cooking. Raul made the most of the American dream, raised a family with his wife, had a tremendous work ethic that he passed on to his children and showed us that it is never too late to discover new talents and reinvent yourself.

In the last six months of his life, as his heart was growing tired, he was under the loving care of his family and Houston Hospice. We wish to thank them for their loving and professional care during his home care and in his final days at Houston Hospice Hospital. Jonelle, Kris, Jim, Anna and Dan, we will never forget the gentle and loving way you cared for Raul in his final journey. Your support of our family is immeasurable and words of gratitude seem to fall short.

We wish to deeply thank God for the gift of this wonderful man, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. We also wish to thank our family and friends for the many prayers offered for us. They have sustained us during this difficult time.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 6th at Funeraria del Angel from 6:00 to 9:00 pm with the Rosary at 7:00 pm. The address is 5100 I-45 North Hwy, Houston, TX. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, August 7th at 11:00 am at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church at 501 Tidwell Rd, Houston, TX. Following the Mass, he will be cremated as per his wishes and will later be laid to rest at Brookside Cemetery in a private family religious ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that donations be made to Houston Hospice in memory of Raul M. Rivera. Houston Hospice, 1905 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030-4123. www.houstonhospice.org.

Houston Hospice is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization.