Rosa Maria Rivera

Rosa Maria Rivera, 74, of Bethlehem, passed away on Thursday, January 16, 2025 at home surrounded by her family.

Born on February 15, 1950, in Arroyo, Puerto Rico, she was the daughter of the late Jesus and Isabel Solivan.

Rosa dedicated her work and service to CACLV for 36 years. She had a heart of gold; she was the most selfless person-she always thought about others before herself especially when it came to her family. She was a faithful member of Holy Infancy Church, Bethlehem. She was a master in the kitchen and would give great advice. She also found great joy in gardening; she loved flowers and butterflies. Rosa will be remembered for her compassion, love, and warmth-she was a tremendous wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter and friend.

She will be dearly missed by her husband of 50 years, Jose Rivera; daughter, Carmen Barbosa and her husband, David; three sons, Ricardo Rivera and his fiancé, Melissa Vazquez, Jose Rivera, Jr., and Fernando Trinidad, Jr.; three brothers, George, Ricardo, and Julio Solivan; two sisters, Auria Alicea and Sonia Rosado; fifteen grandchildren, many nieces and nephews; and her beloved chorkie, Teddy.

In addition to her parents, Rosa is preceded in death by her brother, Pedro Solivan.

A visitation for family and friends will be held on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, from 6-8:00 p.m. at Connell Funeral Home, 245 E. Broad St., Bethlehem, PA 18018. Another visitation will be held on Thursday, January 23, 2025, from 9-10:30 a.m. at Incarnation of Our Lord Parish, 617 Pierce St., Bethlehem, PA 18015 with a Mass of Christian Burial beginning at 10:30 a.m. Burial will conclude services at Holy Saviour Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holy Infancy Church, 312 E. 4th St., Bethlehem, PA 18015.