Luz Mercedes Rivera

 Luz Mercedes Rivera was born on June 28, 1954. She was born in Chicago, Illinois, the 4th child of 10 siblings. She sadly passed away on February 26, 2025 due to congestive heart failure and pneumonia. She was surrounded by her loved ones, her daughter Diana and her sister Margarita. Luz was affectionately known to all of her family as Lucy. She grew up in Chicago until the age of 15 and went to St. Maria Adolorata until she graduated from eight grade. She then went to Tuley High School for only six months. 

Luz moved back to Puerto Rico when her father picked up the family and moved everyone back to the Island in 1969. Luz began high school in the small town of Yabucoa were our parents are from in Puerto Rico. She studied at Teodoreo Aguilar Mora for a couple of years. She loved music. 

She met her husband in Yabucoa and they married at an early age. Lucy had her first child Diana and moved back to Chicago. There she had three more children, Enrique Jr., Esteban, and David. Later Lucy and Enrique Sr. divorced and she raised her children as a single parent. Later Luz went on to raising and adopting her grandson Esteban, Jr. (Stevie) filling a need in both their lives while making positive decisions to advance their success. 

Lucy worked for years for a newspaper company called Xtra. She also worked at O’Hare International Airport at the reception desk. Her last job was at the UIC hospital as customer representative. She was well liked in all of her working establishments. Three years ago Lucy moved to Florida. She loved going to Disney! She was a kid at heart who loved painting. She has painted several beautiful pieces. One she donated to the church. 

 She was also an active member of St. Aloysius Church in Chicago. Luz left behind many who loved her. Children Diana (Miguel) Munoz, Enrique Jr., Esteban, David, and Stevie, grandchildren Tatyana, Salvador (Lisbeth) Medina, Giana Faith, Jaden, Eva, Zule, great grandchildren Layla and Xavier. She will be terribly missed.

Her sibling Maria, Juana, Margarita, Jesse, Ricardo, Jose, and Gerardo will remember her as a festive and unique sister who loved her family. Thank you to all who loved and inspired Lucy. She was loved by many nephews and nieces, and cousins. Thank you for enriching her life. She was happy to know how much she was and still is loved. 

Luz M. Rivera will be viewed at Newcomer Funeral Home: 895 South Goldenrod Road, Orlando Florida 32822