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María Elena Rivera, lovingly known to family and friends as “Helen,” beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend, passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord on Sunday, July 27, 2025, at the age of 81. She was born in Alice, Texas, on December 7, 1943. She is preceded in death by her loving husband of 56 years, Hiram H. Rivera; her parents, Joe and Belia Jacques; sister, Belia Torres (Ralph); great-grandson, Brian Rivera; and two step- granddaughters, Sarah Martinez and Sonia Gaitan. She is survived by her sons, Hiram Gerard Rivera, Homer Stephen Rivera (Margaret), and Hector Roland Rivera (Donna); sister, Joann Martinez (Sam); grandchildren, Sandra Ramon (Josh), Stephen Rivera (Danielle), Anthony Rivera, Joey Rivera, Aspen Rivera (Ramon), Samantha Brockmeyer (Dylan), Jacob Rivera (Cori), Isabeau Rivera, and Nerea Rivera; great- grandchildren, James Monteagudo, Akayla Moreno, Amaya Moreno, Christopher Rivera, Thatcher Rivera, Elias Rivera, Blair Brockmeyer, and Kyrie Ramon; godson, Paul Martinez (Denise); as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and other extended family members. Raised with modest means, Helen made it her life’s mission to ensure no loved one went without. She was the person people called on for help—offering a hand that often came with a dose of tough love, but always came through. Her mantra, like her husband Hiram’s, was simple yet profound: “If I have it, you have it.” She devoted herself to uplifting and supporting her children, cheering them on from little league fields and working school carnivals to high school marching bands, where she and her husband became lifelong supporters of the Wheatley/Brackenridge High School Band Boosters. Volunteering for more than a decade—even long after their sons graduated—she held leadership roles that touched countless students and families. And her support didn’t stop there. As her grandchildren and great-grandchildren began their own journeys through school and extracurricular activities, Helen continued showing up in bleachers, auditoriums, and on the sidelines, cheering them on with that same unwavering love and presence. Though quiet in her expression of faith, Helen’s devotion to Divine Redeemer Presbyterian Church was steady and sincere. She served on Session and faithfully shared her professional talents as a bookkeeper, contributing to the church’s finance team. She especially loved seeing and hearing her sons sing in the church choir, finding quiet joy in their harmony and spirit. Her family will remember her most vividly for her unwavering dedication. She leaves behind a legacy of generosity, strength, and compassion. Her life was a testament to showing up—for her loved ones, her church, and her community—with humility and an open heart. Whether balancing ledgers for the church or selling parade seat tickets, she gave with purpose and without expectation. Her strength never made a scene, but it held generations together. And her compassion, expressed through everyday acts of kindness, remains stitched into the fabric of her family’s story. Helen’s legacy lives on not only in the memories of those she touched, but in every act of service and grace carried forward by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Memorial Service Sunday, August 3rd at 5:00 PM Visitation begins at 4:00 PM Divine Redeemer Presbyterian Church 407 N. Calaveras St., San Antonio, TX 78207 Final Visitation Monday, August 4th at 9:00 AM Mission Park South Funeral Home 1700 SE Military Dr., San Antonio, TX 78214 Graveside Service Monday, August 4th at 10:00 AM Mission Park South Cemetery Reception to follow at the Heritage House on cemetery grounds In Lieu of Flowers Please consider a donation in her memory to Divine Redeemer Presbyterian Church

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Maria Elena Rivera

December 7, 1943 - July 27, 2025