Margarita Rivera Mendez

Margarita Rivera Mendez

Our Beloved Margarita Rivera Mendez, age 80, of rancheria La Lecheria - El Salto, Pueblo Nuevo, Durango, Mexico was called by our precious celestial father on Sunday, December 8, 2024.

She was preceded in death by her first husband Enrique Mora, second husband Willie Godoy Mendez. Her mother, Mercedes Ortega-Rivera & father Luis Rivera. Her brothers, Acension Rivera, Jesus Rivera, Saul Rivera, her sister Hermelinda Rivera.

She is survived by sisters, Maria De La Luz Rivera-Gregory, Isabel Rivera - Retana, Irma Rivera - Amaya, Rosa Rivera - Macias, Virginia Rivera - Manriquez her brothers Jose Luis Rivera and Raymundo Rivera. Her children, Veronica (Ed) Mora-Schnake, Antonia Mora-Charles, Rosita (Eric) Mora-Marchant, Guillermo (Heather) Rivera-Mendez, Larry Mendez, Beatris (Johnny) Mendez-Cervantes, Richard (Karen) Mendez. Her grandchildren Ranon Schnake, Jordan (Frank) Schnake - Grahovac, Tesley Charles, Victoria, Matthew, and Olivia Marchant, Eleyana Mendez, Dominic, Gabriel, and Isaac Berkely. Her great-grandchildren Rylan Schnake and Gabriel Schnake-Grahovac. She was blessed with numerous Mendez and Cervantes grand, great, and great-great grandchildren. 

She found joy in raising her family and is remembered as a strong matriarch who always practiced kindness and was known for silly antics filled with laughter. Finding great comfort in her faith; she steadfastly believed in and practiced acts of service for her community and church; often organizing meals for missionaries or assistance for anyone in need. Always talkative and up for socializing; she was often found on the phone speaking with family or evening walks with local neighbors, ending every night watering her rose, hibiscus, and aloe vera plants. Though naturalized a U.S. citizen in 2001 along side her mother, she was a proud daughter of her homeland and never stopped cheering for Mexico in the World Cup. She strongly believed in staying active no matter what age and somehow always found time to exercise between maintaining her household, raising her family, work, and serving her community; which was all the more reason she could enjoy her favorite candy, Turtles and chamomile tea without hesitation. She lives in our hearts and minds with great fondness, love, admiration, and her family is grateful to have had so many beautiful moments with her.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to the caregivers Isabel Lopez, Elizabeth Cruz, Juani Acevedo, Lupita Mendoza, Charles Palmer, and especially Alma Lopez who saw her as a mother figure, and also for going above and beyond and being loyal to her promise to care for her until the end. Thank You to Well Med Staff, Nurses, and Dr. J. Pena-Mtz; DHR Hospital and DHR Hospice. 

Memorial Service will be held Monday, December 16, 2024 at 11:00 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints located at 5601 N. 29th St. McAllen TX.