Rosinda Chavez Rivera

Rosinda Rivera, devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, prima, and tía, passed away on September 27, 2024, at the age of 87. Rosinda was born on June 17, 1937, to Manuel Aguilar and Mariana Chávez in Linares, Nuevo León.

Rosinda grew up near Río Verde, surrounded by orange groves. She loved the outdoors, which later inspired her passion for gardening and going on long walks.

In 1948, her family moved to Detroit, Michigan, where she found the love of her life and future husband, Elidio “Leo” Rivera. They met at a Halloween dance shortly after Leo arrived in Detroit. Rosinda graduated from the High School of Commerce in 1955 and briefly worked for Mobil Oil while patiently waiting for Leo to complete his service in the U.S. Army. They were married shortly after Leo was honorably discharged in 1956. Leo and Rosinda enjoyed 68 years of marriage and had four children, ten grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

In 1957, they moved to Matamoros for a short time before permanently settling in Houston. Rosinda dedicated her early married life to raising their children and later received an associate’s degree from Houston Community College, while also supporting the family business, La Rivera Seafood Restaurant, in Houston’s Near Northside community.

Rosinda was a wonderful cook. As a teenager, she was required to wake up early every morning and make fresh tortillas for her father. While she did not have fond memories of this, she still made some of the best tortillas ever and everyone loved her tamales, made with love and care every Christmas. But her most famous dish, was her rice. Leo tried for years to replicate her rice, but he never could make it like Rosie. She was a loving and caring person who would always offer help to anyone in need.

Rosinda was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Leo; her parents; and her siblings: Josefina, Manuela, Rudolfo, and Ferraro; her beloved grandson, Ramon Nicholas Rivera; and son-in-law, Ricardo Castillo. She is survived by her son, Victo (Susanna Rivera); daughter, Norma (Winston Pereira); daughter, Dora Castillo; and son, Gerardo (Catherine Rivera). Her grandchildren include Leonard (Cherrity Rivera), Victor (Shelly Rivera), Vincent (Jessa Rivera), Gerardo (Laura), and Michelle Pereira, Veronica (Jim Webb), Ricardo Castillo, Gregory (Fei Rivera), and Vannessa Rivera. Her great-grandchildren are Emilio and Emmett Rivera, Pablo and Celeste Pereira, and Ava and Emma Webb.

The family would like to express its deepest gratitude to the special caregivers, Marina, Aydee, and the entire staff at Fairbanks Courts Assisted Living for their kindness and the heartfelt care they provided to Rosinda.

A mass will be held at St Justin Martyr Catholic Church, 13350 Ashford Point Dr, Houston beginning at 11:00 am on Friday October 11, 2024.