Virginia Andrea Rivale

Virginia Andrea Maes Rivale

September 10, 1927-October 18, 2022

Our dear Mama, Grandma, great-grandma, great-great grandma, sister, auntie, teacher, friend, fellow Catholic; Virginia Andrea Rivale departed this world on October 18, 2022.  She was born in Kim, Colorado on September 10, 1927, to Cipriano and Higinia Maes.  She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Sosten; son, Art; granddaughters, Shanon Rivale and Tabor Menhennett; great-grandson, Sterling; all her siblings, infants Alfonso, Miguel and Mae; sisters Agnes Montoya and Theresa Garcia; brothers, Elias Madrid, Ernest, Eloy and Richard Maes.  Surviving her are her children Ernie (Eunice), J.C. (Sue), Belinda Trujillo, Vicki Menhennett (Tom), Connie Mestas (Pat), Richard, Bill (Susan), and Ron, and daughter-in-law Ilene, 23 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-granddaughter.

Mama was a gentle soul, so very dedicated to her family, raising her kids to believe in God, attend Mass, and pray the rosary, often saying 30-day Novenas.  She never hesitated to ask God for help to feed her family, assist while driving during a blizzard, provide rain, or help a sick family member or friend.  Almost nightly before bed, we all kneeled on the living room floor to recite the rosary and during Lent, added the Stations of the Cross.  She enrolled all her children in a religious correspondence course which we obediently completed each week and mailed in. Later in life, on Sundays, after Mass, Mama taught Catechism.

She drove the bus at Pritchett mostly loaded with her own children, and a few neighbors. After moving to Walsh in 1969, Mom worked as a teacher’s aide at the elementary.  Mrs. Rivale truly enjoyed all her students.  Her specialty was to teach children to read.  She paid 5 cents for each page read aloud.  She LOVED handing out those nickels!

Growing up in a tough generation, living through the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and World War II; Mom knew how to survive hard times, how to live off nothing, and how to work hard. With a coop full of chickens, milk cows, half-acre gardens, and plenty of deer, we were always self-sufficient. And we all learned to work. Mom made the best homemade bread (13 loaves every other day), tortillas (Grandkids’ favorites), sopapillas, beans and chili, stacked enchiladas, empanadas, “bean” and homegrown pumpkin pies, and of course, fried potatoes and fried deer meat.

After retiring, she and Dad ventured out to take care of cattle for the Saguache Park Grazing Association.  Tough living, but, oh, how they loved it.  On occasion, Mom joined Dad, horseback, searching for strays.  Dad always said they’d be back in a few hours, but Mom knew better and always packed a lunch. It was usually dark when they unsaddled back at the cabin.  All their kids and grandkids loved joining them at the Park and they enjoyed having them.

Mom was a great role model, clear to the very last moments.  Mama was the best mama a kid could ever ask for.  In life we loved you dearly, in death we love you still.  In our hearts you hold a place no one else will.

Services will be held Tuesday, October 25, 2022, at the Minnick Building, Fairgrounds Road, Springfield, Colorado. A time of visitation will be held from 9-10 a.m. Rosary will be recited at 10:00 a.m. and Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m.

A Catholic Rite of Committal Service will be held Wednesday, October 26, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Chicago Cemetery, CR Z43 in Saguache, Colorado.