Rivera Family Funeral & Cremation Somos Familia
In an era when big corporate chains seem to be taking over every aspect of life and death from “cradle to grave,” Rivera Family Funeral and Cremation Services is proud to be the last and the only local familyowned funeral business serving Taos, Española, Los Alamos and Santa
Fe. Rivera will be celebrating the completion of its 85th year as Taos’ hometown funeral home.
“Taos is a community that knows the importance of being home-owned and operated,” says Tim Rivera, owner and funeral director. “We are not part of a big corporate funeral chain. Our firm was established in 1933 by the Hanlon and Garcia family and we’ve been home-owned for 85 years.”
Amos Rivera and his son Tim have earned the trust of Taoseños for generations due to their commitment to compassionate and affordable care. Rivera Funeral Home is proud not to be a part of a corporate chain. “Our home office is in Taos not Houston or Toronto and we are not driven by returns to Wall Street or stockholders, like the new chain funeral home that is opening in Taos,” says Tim Rivera. Rivera Funeral Home was unsuccessfully sued by one of the big corporate chains to force the Riveras to stop advertising that they are the “only” locally owned funeral home. When asked about the lawsuit, Tim and Amos agree, “Although we may be smalltown, we won’t be bullied. It is part of the big funeral chain’s attempt to hide their ownership.” Amos adds, “We are Taoseños; Somos familia. We’ve been here for generations – our roots go back over 500 years and we won’t be forced out.”
NEWLY REMODELED FACILITIES
In celebration of their 85th year anniversary, the Riveras recently completed the remodeling of their funeral home located on Paseo del Pueblo Sur across from the El Taoseño restaurant and next to Larry Martinez Jeweler. Tim said that the beautiful modernization of one of New Mexico’s largest facilities now includes a reception space available after services as well as a new audio-visual system. “I’m proud that we’ve been able to remodel our facilities without raising prices for ten years.
He explains that the modernization of the Rivera facility includes the addition of a reception space available after services, as well as a new audio-visual system. The traditional Pueblo-style facility and chapel is one of the largest in New Mexico and the large lobby has the ambience of an art gallery with paintings and sculptures from some of Taos’ most well-known artists. “Our newly remodeled facility is the perfect event center for both traditional funerals as well as life celebration services,” says Rivera. “It is the only funeral home in Taos where both a service and reception can be held. Rivera Funeral Home has amazing, award-winning facilities in both Santa Fe and Española. Now in our 85th anniversary year, we have a newly beautified and expanded facility in our hometown Taos. As a family-owned business, we continue to invest in our community with facilities that represent the authentic architectural style of Northern New Mexico.” Nationally, hometown-owned funeral homes on average cost about 10-20 % less than funeral home chains. Rivera Funeral Home also owns the crematory for Northern New Mexico that is
located on the banks of the Rio Grande River in Española. We don’t contract out cremations and the public can trust that their loved one is always in our care and not taken to a crematory in another part of the state.”
EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AFFORDABILITY
Rivera Funeral Home and Cremation Services was recently awarded recognition by the Funeral Research Group for being in the top 5% of funeral professionals in the United States. “We are especially proud that manager Doreen Martinez was awarded recognition for being in the top 2% nationally for exceptional customer service,” says Tim. “Exceptional service is what we strive for with every family. Our staff has worked for us for decades and they are from every part of Taos County, including Ranchos de Taos, Peñasco, Questa, Arroyo Seco and Arroyo Hondo. We are proud that we pay fair wages, including benefits and have a retirement program for our staff.”
Rivera’s long-time staff include Sandy Martinez and Cipriano Duran who have been with the Riveras since the ‘80s. All of the employees are part of the family and also include Frank Salazar, Gloria Montoya, Jacqueline Garcia, Christine Vigil and Eric Tafoya, who are all life-time residents of Taos. “We are very lucky to have such dedicated caretakers,” says Rivera. “We are also honored to employ veterans. Victor Torres, who served as an infantryman in Iraq, is one of our young funeral professionals and the future of the business.”
EIGHTEEN YEARS OF GRIEF SUPPORT
Rivera and Golden Willow Grief Retreat are celebrating 18 years of collaboration in providing grief support groups to Taos and continued care through support to thousands of individuals after the loss of a loved one. Golden Willow’s founder Ted Wiard and Tim Rivera agree, “What started out as a program to support Taoseños is now a national model of collaboration between funeral and loss/grief care professionals.” “Wiard and his staff are amazing,” adds Rivera, “and we are proud to have Golden Willow as part of our team of caregivers.” According to Wiard, “The collaborative support that is provided by Rivera and Golden Willow, from
the notification of the death of a loved one to months and sometime years afterward, is vital to the well-being of the Taos community.”
TAKING CARE OF ALL SEGMENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY
Rivera Funeral and Cremation Services has been honored by Taos County for the care of indigent families and in 2018 was recognized by the Sangre de Cristo Funeral Fund as the primary sponsor, helping provide over $200,000 in assistance during the last decade to Northern New Mexico families. “Our commitment is that every person deserves loving care. That has been our mission to our home-town neighbors for generations – somos familia.”