Anita Rivera

Anita “Annie” Rivera, age 70, went to eternal rest on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Stockton after a brief illness. Annie was born July 15, 1951 to Philip and Armida (Navarro) Rivera of Jalisco, Mexico and Los Angeles, CA who settled in Stockton, CA to raise their family. Annie was the second of eight children (and many would say the bossiest), but she loved being part of a large immediate and extended family. She was always ready and eager for the next family event or gathering.

Annie loved music and was known to dance and sing constantly to the songs of Elvis, the Beatles, and many more. She sang very off key and danced like no one was watching! Anita also loved movie musicals all her life: just about everything and anything from The Wizard of Oz and The Sound of Music to Mamma Mia and Pitch Perfect. And, she loved to laugh and had a quirky sense of humor (you just had to know and love her to understand).

A lifelong resident of Stockton, Annie lived at home with her parents and siblings after graduating from Franklin High School. In the Spring of 1975, she met Manuel Rosas while on a bike ride to visit a friend. After a long talk and a walk home, they began dating. They welcomed their first born, Ann Marie, in 1976 and moved in together. Five years later, they welcomed their son, Richard, into the world. They bought a home together and Manuel and Annie remained a loving devoted couple until his passing in 2003.

Anita chose to be a homemaker so she could dedicate her time to taking care of her family and her home. Additionally, Annie enjoyed volunteering at her children’s school; she worked in the kitchen for the hot lunch program, assisted in the office with various tasks, and helped to supervise on the playground. Annie always enjoyed welcoming friends and family into her home and engaging in crafts; over the years, she dabbled in painting ceramics, photography, and needlepoint.

Annie was most passionate about her crocheting and her love of Christmas. Her home was constantly filled with colorful balls of yarn and her blankets were something she worked on all year long - even in summer! The warmth of her blankets and the vibrancy of their colors was her way of showing her love to those she held most dear. And Anita loved everything Christmas: She would plan all year long for that one day, collected all kinds of decorations, and would watch Christmas movies all year long. She truly embodied the concept of keeping the Spirit of Christmas year round.

Anita is preceded in death by her parents, Philip and Armida Rivera; her life partner, Manuel Rosas; and her brother, Philip J. Rivera. She is survived by her daughter, Ann Marie Rosas of Stockton; and her son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Jamie (Nucitelli) Rosas of North Hills, CA. She is also survived by her sisters and brothers-in-law: Mary and Salvador Hernandez, Alice and Frank Moscato, Veronica Macias, Sylvia and Allen Spain, Armida Norma and Alex Carranza, all of Stockton; and Susana and Dante Ponce of Arequipa, Peru, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.

Friends and family are invited to the Visitation which will be at De Young Shoreline Chapel, 7676 Shoreline Drive, Stockton, on Monday, April 4, 2022, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. with a Rosary to follow at 6 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be at St. Bernadette's Catholic Church, 2544 Plymouth Road, Stockton, on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at 10 a.m. Committal will follow the Mass at San Joaquin Catholic Cemetery, 719 E. Harding Way, Stockton.