Alicia Riva

Tita came to the United States from Argentina with her husband Tulio in 1964 with not much more than a dream. Together, through perseverance and hard work, they built a life and a family. Tita was the owner of Alice Coiffures for almost thirty years and, despite working long hours during the day and then working at night to prepare for the next day, never gave in to the demands of her children for frozen dinners, insisting instead on home-cooked meals every night. Tita was a talented cook of traditional Argentine dishes and anyone who enjoyed her milanesas and flan could taste the care and love that she put into every meal.

Tita lived her life with grace, courage, and an unwavering determination to build a good life for her children, Claudia and Gabriel. She was most happy spending time with her family, especially her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She was fortunate enough to have one of her sisters, Doris Cela and her husband Jorge, and their sons, George and Steven, close by as they also built their lives in America. For many years, Christmas at Tita’s was a tradition cherished by all of her nieces, nephews, and great-nieces/nephews.

Tita loved to travel and was, in addition to yearly trips to Argentina to visit family, able to travel the world with friends and family. When no one was available to accompany her to Africa, she went on her African safari solo without a second thought. She loved going to the opera, ballet, and museums, she loved dancing an Argentine tango, but she was happiest sitting on a sunlit beach or planting in her garden. Tita left us as she lived, with grace and courage, never complaining, but comforting her children and family. Our memories of our loving, gracious, and strong Tita will live in our hearts forever.

Alicia was preceded in death by her parents Dominga Mazzeo and Carlos Valerio Quintana, and her ex-husband Tulio Riva, with whom she maintained a close relationship until his passing. She is survived by her daughter Claudia and husband Cliff, son Gabriel and wife Bernadette; grandchildren, Alexandra and husband James, Gabriela, and Charles, great-grandchildren Andrew and Amelia; her sisters, Mari and husband Daniel, Doris and husband Jorge, and Marta.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from one o’clock until two o’clock in the afternoon on Sunday, the 16th of October, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston, where the funeral service is to commence at two o’clock.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent grand foyer.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests memorial contributions be directed to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org).

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