Sylvia B. Rivera

Sylvia B. Rivera (Silva) was born on December 3, 1952 in El Paso, TX and passed away peacefully at home on November 4, 2008 after a valiant battle with cancer. She was preceded in death by her parents, Luis T. and Hortensia P. Barajas and her newborn son, Richard R. Ramirez Jr. and by other cherished family members, maternal grandparents, Jose and Carmen L. Porras, paternal grandparents, Manuel and Ricarda Barajas and aunts, Aurora Castaneda, Monica Leticia Porras, Enriqueta Rascon, Josefina Ramirez, and Carmen C. Porras. She is survived by her sister, Patricia B. Villegas, brother-in-law, Robert Villegas Jr., nieces, Gabrielle A. Hermosillo and Lindsey Y. Villegas, nephews, Richard A. Viscarra and Robert Villegas III, and godchildren, Ryan, Amber, and Charles Kitchen. She was a devoted animal lover and leaves behind her beloved Idgie and Tiny (Ewok). She graduated from Irvin High School in 1971 and was in the United States Air Force for six years. She graduated from UTEP in 1994 with a B.S.S.W. in Social Work. She worked for the El Paso County Public Defender Office, the El Paso Police Department, and the Texas and Denver Department of Human Services. While a student at UTEP she wrote a grant request that resulted in the establishment of the Crime Victim Assistance Program for the El Paso County Defender Office and, subsequently, for the El Paso Police Department. After graduation, she was hired by the El Paso Police Department to set up the Victim Assistance Program. Sylvia was an avid reader, kept up with current events and had strong opinions which she gladly shared. She loved collecting all kinds of music from jazz to Mariachis, books and movies. She had a great mind for trivia and was the family “encyclopedia”. She loved her aunts, uncles and cousins and kept them and her friends close to her heart. She was kind and generous and felt her mission in life was to help others, which she did through her work and in her personal life. Those who knew her understand why her father’s nickname for her was “La Famosa”. Pallbearers are Fernando Castaneda, Robert Kitchen, Ernesto Porras Jr., Rick Rascon, Jaime Rodriguez and Robert W. Vera, M.D. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Sunday, November 9, 2008 at Sunset Funeral Home-Northeast with a Vigil/Rosary at 7:00 pm. Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m., Monday, November 10, 2008 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Interment will be Fort Bliss National Cemetery. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home - Northeast. Please visit on-line register book at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net