Asunción Rivera

Asunción Rivera,101, of New Haven, Connecticut died peacefully at her home on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 with her loving family by her side. She was the beloved wife of the late Pedro Rivera. Asunción was born in Manaubo, Puerto Rico on August 15, 1924, a daughter of the late Alfonso and Genara Garcia, and had resided in New Haven for the past forty eight years. 

Asunción was married in 1942, started her family in Manaubo, and later moved in 1956 to become one of only a handful of Hispanics to reside at that time in Guilford, Connecticut. She later moved to New Haven where she remained for over forty six years. Asunción acquired her driver's license at the tender age of 50! She became an employee of Matlaw Food Products, located in West Haven, Connecticut, and ultimately retired at age 62. Throughout her life she enjoyed watching and encouraging her sons to play baseball/softball. She loved to sing and dance, had a beautiful sense of fashion; shoes, sunglasses, belt and purse to match, nails manicured and hair never out of place. She loved a good game of pokeno with her favorite card always hidden to ensure a win, and had quite the sense of humor. She was a devoted mother to the very end, and will be missed terribly by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a host of family and lifelong friends. 

Asunción is survived by a daughter, Hilda L. Rivera of New Haven, five sons, Pedro Julio Rivera of Buffalo, NY, Wilson Rivera and Frank Rivera of New Haven, Serafin (Mary) Rivera of Watertown, NY and Carlos (Diane) Rivera of Estero, FL, two daughters in law, Ana Colón and Mary Rivera, eight grandchildren, Michael Rivera, Ana J. Vazquez, Tamara Torres, Jessica Rivera, Melanie Rivera-Reilly, Tony Rivera, Jonathan Rivera and Patricia Chieppo, twenty eight great-grandchildren, fifteen great-great-grandchildren, and many loving nieces, nephews, great nieces, great, nephews, cousins and friends. She was predeceased by two sons, Victor M. Rivera and Tony Rivera two sisters, Madalena and Modesta Garcia, two brothers, Tanyo and José Ernesto Garcia,. and five grandchildren, Rodney, Edward, Jason and Michael L. Rivera and Edward Chieppo.

Asunción's family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday, May 31st from 3:00 until 5:00 p.m. at the WashIngton Memorial Funeral Home, 4 Washington Ave., North Haven. A funeral service will take place at the funeral home on Monday, June 1st at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, New Haven, washingtonmemorialfh.com  

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