Alice Virginia Rivera
PHOENIX – Mrs. Alice Virginia Rivera, age 99, of Phoenix, AZ, peacefully passed away Monday, August 14, 2023, surrounded by family and friends. At a later date an announcement will be made regarding funeral arrangements. Alice’s life was centered around serving others. She graduated from St. Mary’s Hospital Nursing School in Tucson in 1944. Alice and Alex were married in Tucson on January 31, 1948. And they moved to Phoenix. Alice was Head Nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital for many years. She worked at a blood plasma center, for a neurosurgeon and a registered nurse for Creighton elementary school in Phoenix. She retired to help take care of grandchildren. Alice volunteered her sewing skills to provide layettes for newborns for Christ Child a group at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church. She was also an activity instructor at Los Olivos Senior Center. Alice and Alex raised a beautiful family of 5 children, 5 grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.
Surviving Alice are her daughters: Margo Rivera Wilson (predeceased by Linc); Kathryn Altergott (Lee); Juliana Horwin (Louis); Lauren Aderman (predeceased by John); and her son Marc Rivera (Cynthia). Grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Michelle Altergott Gaffney (Chris) (great-grandchildren Peyton and Ashton); Donald Johnson (Kristin) (great-grandchildren Tanner and Piper); Danielle Rivera; Jacqueline Carney and Caroline Aderman. She is also survived by her sisters Fresia Lopez “Fresh”, Conchita Fotinos “Connie”, Dolores Carillo “Lolly”, Armida Hahn “Middy”, Sister M. Benedicta, and her brother, Richard Huerta (Jacque).
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Alex, and her sisters Mercy Rivera, Josie Herrera and Rena Huerta. There has always been laughter around any table with the Huerta sisters and their families. Her greatest legacy is that we will continue to share that laughter and we are sure to hear her echoing chuckles in the room.
Because of that laughter, that special time together, memories were made that we will cherish for as long as God allows us to hold on to them.
There are no words to truly express how much we will miss our mom especially just being able to talk to her, get her advice, and share the daily news and events both in the world and personal to our family.
We are so blessed and have so much to be thankful for - we had our mom for 99 years! We all had the opportunity to see mom’s faith in action, and each have our own special memories to carry with us. We will see you when we get there Alice. Until then, you can find her in us, her family.
A big thank you to all who knew and loved our mom. Contributions to Hospice of the Valley. Condolences may be expressed at www.whitneymurphyfuneralhome.com.