Antonia Rivera

Antonia Rivera, age 88, of Chicago, Illinois passed away peacefully on Friday, October 27, 2023, surrounded by her loved ones. Antonia was born in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico on July 8, 1935, to Felicita Guzman and Angel Martinez. Devoted wife of Cesar Rivera Perez. Loving mother of Maritza (Gerardo) Medrano, Cesar (Diana) Rivera. Proud Grandma of Joshua, Christian, and Elijah Medrano as well as Vanessa and Josiah Rivera. Dear sister to Erida Cruz, William, and Ruth Martinez. Her passing was preceded by her husband, her siblings Angel Luis and Juan Martinez, and siblings Juan, Virgina, and Ulpiana Colón.

Antonia came to the United States as a teenager and graduated from Froebel High School in Gary, Indiana. After high school, she moved to Chicago where she attended college briefly. She met the love of her life Cesar in the early 1960’s. Antonia worked in a leading manufacturing role for Sunbeam Products. She would leave this role to raise her children. She returned to the workforce after her kids were older and became a rehabilitation aide at St. Mary of Providence School. As a rehabilitation aide, she nurtured and cared for girls and women with developmental disabilities. She displayed extreme compassion and love for these women, often bringing them home for holiday festivities.

Antonia was a devout Catholic, who continued to pray the rosary daily even after her Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2015. As her Alzheimer’s disease advanced, her love for music persisted; singing lyrics to her favorite songs brought her joy and comfort. She will be fondly remembered by her family for her devotion and faith as well as her infinite and unabating love for her family, especially her grandkids. Her family will deeply miss her.

A visitation service will be held on Sunday, November 5, 2023, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Montclair-Lucania Funeral Home, 6901 W Belmont Ave, Chicago Illinois 60634. Followed by a brief prayer on Monday, November 6 at 10:30 AM with burial at Eden Cemetery in Schiller Park to follow.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.montclair-lucaniafuneral.com for the Rivera family.