Alice Mary Rivera

Alice M. Rivera 83, of Longmont, CO, passed away peacefully at home on February 26, 2024, with many loved ones by her side. She was born on May 3rd, 1940, in Costilla NM, and was the 2nd oldest of 14 children born to Salvador Rivera and Lily Santistevan (Rivera).

The Rivera family moved from Costilla to Bayard, NM, in 1948 and eventually to Silverton, CO. Her experiences, memories and the recollection of her childhood and teenage years is what shaped her to be a dedicated, hard working, loyal and a spiritually faithful woman. Her stories never got old; she told them as if she was back in that moment and you felt every bit of it. Sadly, she took all the precious memories that the younger generations of her nieces, nephews and cousins would have loved to hear about their parents with her passing. She had a very special bond with each and every one of her siblings and it may have been heightened at different times throughout each of their lives. Her loving brothers are Salvador Jr., Adolfito, Patrick, Jessie, and Able. Alice’s beautiful sisters are Adrian, Delma, Eliza, Lily, Patsy, Cindy, Terry, and Debbie. They are all cherished and Loved by their sister, Alice.

As a teenager, Alice’s responsibilities became more than helping her parents with the siblings at home. Alice began working as a waitress at a local Café in Silverton as a way of helping the growing family. She has very fond memories of her mother and grandmother making clothes and Easter outfits that the children were proud to wear. Her parents always made sure that there was supper on the table. The most delicious meats (prepared by Grandpa Rivera) the fresh tortillas, beans, chili and freshest vegetables from the garden. It was a labor of Love, survival, and hard work from whomever was old enough to help. Alice always said we might have been poor, but we were the richest and they made sure we never went without food. She always had a deep Love and respect for her parents and that is what she lived by, morals, family values, self respect, hard work, an abundance of Love through food. Her roots are deep, and her 8 children are honored to come from such a bloodline that is strong and endured such humble times.

Alice moved from Silverton to Laramie Wyoming in 1958 where she met and married Cirrio Salazar and had 6 of her 8 children. In 1969, Alice moved to Colorado with Joe Atler where they had a son (at home) in Mead. Her youngest daughter was born in Longmont to Alice and John Zavala. She raised her 8 children in the tri town area of Frederick, Colorado and worked as a bar tender and waitress at Mead Bar. She also worked for Miller Market in Platteville, CO. Working the fields harvesting potatoes, cucumbers and onions was no easy job, but she loved it. The sun on her back and often times the kids tagged along to help; what beautiful memories that will always be cherished.

Alice had a passion for crafting, mainly painting, anything and everything. She loved color, sparkles, and feathers. She always wanted to be a professional interior decorator and she definitely was, in her own domain. She re-created all of her décor, from curtains, picture frames, throw pillows, bathroom décor, her bedroom, kitchen makeovers. You name it and she had her hands on it in some sort of way. Her passion and vision for living life to the fullest was seen through all of this. She always gave everything her all, wholeheartedly. She loved to gamble, play cards, spend time in the mountains, Spanish music, dancing and being around family.

Alice is survived by her children; Bernadette, Cirrio, Patrick (Tammy), Edward (Ronnette), Joe (Patty) and Angel (Pete). She was a 5th generation and has 34 Grandchildren, 54 Great Grandchildren, 12 Great Great Grandchildren and 3 more on the way. Alice has many family members including cousins, Aunts, Uncles, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren in various states of New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Wyoming, California, Colorado, South Dakota and Florida.

Alice is preceded in death by her parents Salvador and Lily Rivera, Three brothers Adolfito, Patrick and Salvador Jr., two sisters; Eliza and Lily; two sons Gino and Salvador (Sammy); Several grandkids; Joey, Rosco (RJay), Catrina, Danielle, Michael & Patrick. Our mother will be remembered as a Fearless, Courageous, Selfless, Loving and Humble woman with a history only she could tell. Until we put our arms around you again, Mama

A visitation for Alice will be held Tuesday, March 12, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Howe Mortuary, 439 Coffman Street, Longmont, Colorado followed by a Recitation of the Rosary at 6:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at 10:00 AM at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 323 Collyer Street, Longmont, Colorado. A committal service at 11:00 AM at Mountain View Cemetery, 620 11th Street, Longmont, Colorado. A reception will be at 12:00 PM at First Congregational United Church of Christ of Longmont, 1500 9th Avenue, Longmont, Colorado.