Ms. Delia Rivera

Mrs. Delia Rivera, of Edenton, NC, fell asleep in death, Thursday, January 16, 2025. Delia was born to the late Margarita and Americo Figueroa, in Brooklyn, NY. She was the fourth of six children. She married Tomas Rivera in 1955, and was blessed with two children, Thomas Rivera and Norma Peterson. Delia was a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker. She had a bubbly personality and an infectious laugh. She loved life, her family and friends. She loved decorating her home, cooking, crocheting, music and dancing. She was a creative artist. In the 1970’s, while living in Brooklyn, she began to study the Bible with Jehovah’s witnesses and got baptized in 1973, at Yankee Stadium. While learning Bible truths, and despite some opposition, she began sharing what she learned with many of her family members. Always encouraging them to have their own Bible study. Due to her natural ability to start conversations with anyone, wherever she went, she excelled at informal witnessing. She helped aid family and acquaintances to come into the truth, using that method. Delia found herself living in Tyner, NC, after her husband retired in 1997, near their son and his family. She continued her dedicated life to Jehovah with the Hertford Congregation family. Country living was a big adjustment for her, because up to that point, all she knew was city life in Brooklyn and the Bronx. Her late husband Tomas was very supportive of her worship. He attended many special events with her held by Jehovah’s Witnesses throughout the years. He would drop and pick her up from the Christian meetings held at the Kingdom Hall. He was fondly called “Papi” by the friends in the Congregation. Despite finding country life very isolating, her family and new friends in the congregation helped her tremendously. She would spend many hours in the ministry. She assisted with Bible studies she was invited to sit in on with the sisters. She also enjoyed it, when they shared a lunch break together many times. This brought her great satisfaction and helped her establish many close friendships over the years. In March of 2022, Delia, needed to move into an assisted living facility, called Edenton House. There, she was visited and encouraged many times by her family, shepherding elders, and friends. Delia is preceded in death by three sisters and one brother. Delia leaves to cherish her memories, son, Thomas Rivera and wife (Damarys); daughter, Norma Peterson and husband (Don), one sister, Norma Figueroa of Brooklyn, NY; grandchildren, Thomas Rivera III, Nyla M. Rivera-Donna and husband (Reginald), Abigail Rivera, Justin Peterson; great-grandchildren, Alysia B. Rivera, Zoey M. Watkins, and R2-Reginald C. Donna; one great-great grandson, Aramis A. Pacheco-Rivera; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

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Ms. Delia Rivera

February 7, 1936 - January 16, 2025