Charles Rivera, Sr.

Charles A. Rivera, 59, of Newton, Kansas died June 5th, 2015. Charles was born to Myrtle and Robert Rivera on August 26, 1955 in Chicago, Il.  He married and had a son, Charles Rivera, Jr. Charles is predeceased by his parents.  He is survived by Son: Charles Rivera Jr. and Daughter-in-law Jessica Rivera; Brothers: William Rivera and Bob Rivera; Grandchildren:  Nicolas, Alex, Adrian and Gabby Rivera.

From his Son:  

On June 1st 2015 I received a call from my father and his doctor that he had been diagnosed with a terminal lung disease. The Dr. gave him 6 months to live. He sounded strong and assured me not to feel sad “it’s a part of life” he said “you live and you die, and I’m not scared of death anymore”. Four days later I received a different call. He had taken a turn for the worst, was unresponsive and being taken off oxygen support that same day. It was time to say goodbye.  My father lived a life of love. He loved his son, he loved his daughter-in-law and he loved his grandchildren. He loved his family and others around him. He was very outgoing and enjoyed making friends with everyone he could, while caring enough to help others in need, even if that meant giving you his last dollar. He devoted most of his time to working hard every single day and took extreme pride in his accomplishments.  Sometimes we get lost in the everyday routine of life and time slips by so quickly. We only have minutes on this earth and yet most of us obsess over trivial problems that simply do not matter. My father had huge dreams of what he would do if he won the lottery. From setting up homeless shelters, to taking care of his family, to spending more time being with the ones he loved and doing what he enjoyed. Time is our most precious asset. We should all use it wisely to hold close the ones we love and do all you can to help others around you. Because you never know when your last day will come, and in the end all you have are the memories.