Francisco Rivera, age 74, of Plano, Texas, passed away September 13, 2016. He was born October 3, 1941 in Edinburg, Texas, to Macario and Hipolita (Cervantes) Rivera. Francisco grew up in Edinburg, where he went to Catholic school and was an alter boy and also enjoyed played little league baseball, where he was the leader in the league’s home runs. On March 15, 1961, Francisco married Amelia Rodriguez in Edinburg. He began working at age 6 as a migrant worker. In the mid 60’s he made a pivitol decision to begin work as a carpenter; he worked as a carpenter most of his life. Francisco enjoyed fixing things around the house, loved the Dallas Cowboys and most of all loved attending any of his grandchildren’s activities. One of his proudest accomplishments was assisting as a couple’s leader in a marriage encounter retreat for Spanish speaking familes called Jornada Familiar and also, the Cursillo Retreats. He also counseled engaged couples in marriage preparation classes. Francisco was a Eucharistic minister and a volunteer of St. Vincent de Paul. Francisco was a member of St. Mark Catholic Church in Plano, Texas, where he was very active for many years.
He is survived by his wife, Amelia Rivera of Plano,Texas; children, Elisa Rivera Hayes and husband Gene of Katy, Texas, Francisco Rivera, Jr of Allen, Texas, Rene Rivera and wife Tina of McKinney, Texas, Norma Richardson and husband Ricky of Allen, Texas, Lorena Fennell and husband Robert also of Allen, Texas; grandchildren, Jonathan Hayes, Gabrielle Hayes, Seth Rivera, Eric Rivera, Jeremy Rivera, Reed Richardson, Hannah Richardson, Adrianna Fennell and Zachary Fennell; siblings, Jose Rivera, Ricardo Rivera, Maria Veliz, Cristina Garcia, Raquel Herrera and Rosa Rivera; a host of other loving family and friends.
Francisco is preceded in death by his parents, Macario and Hipolita Rivera; brother, Ascencion Rivera; and sister, Consuelo Garcia.
A mass of Christian burial will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, September 16, 2016 at St. Mark Catholic Church, 1201 Alma Drive in Plano, Texas. Interment will follow at Ridgeview Memorial Park in Allen, Texas. The family will receive friends during a visitation being held Thursday evening, from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., with a rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m., at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas.