Maria Teresa Rivera, adored wife, dedicated mother, cherished grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother was reunited with her husband on October 12, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. Born on June 2, 1924, in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Maria Teresa led a life full of love, faith, and devotion.

Known as "Tete" to her friends and family, she moved from the island to Brooklyn, New York in 1942 to pursue work and was quickly followed by Bienvenido, a suitor who had been smitten with her. By 1946 they were married and began the family business El Bazaar Hispano. Tete juggled caring for her young children and building the business with Benny, which became the first of many successful endeavors. Together Tete and Benny eventually retired to Florida and later joined two of their children in Georgia. Together they loved gardening and camping, visiting their grandchildren and traveling regularly to their beloved Puerto Rico.

She was a model of motherhood, laughter, and hospitality, turning small meals into celebrations and feeding the masses with joy and ease. She loved hosting, parties of all kinds, and would dance into the night even when she knew that her legs would ache the next day. "Gram" delighted in making favorite meals for her grandchildren when they would visit, teaching them all a little something with each dish.

She was a woman of great faith who valued family and God above all else, basking in all of God's glory, especially el rio, her matas, and flowers of all kinds. She herself was full of life, with an infectious laugh that often drove her to tears. She was also a killer card player, who would trash talk you as she beat you soundly.

A devoted wife to her loving husband, Bienvenido, with whom she shared a lifetime of love and laughter for 65 years, Tete was the root from whom all her family not only grew but bloomed. Her greatest legacy is the love that will be engraved in their hearts forever.

Maria is survived by her children, Maria Elena Rivera, Evelyn Gresch, and Bienvenido Rivera, Jr.; son-in-law Jeffrey Gresch and daughter-in-law Ruthy Rivera. Grandchildren are Alan and Adriane Stannish Rivera, Lisa Hattersley, Justin Boria, and Evelyn Sanchez Rivera, Trae Rivera, Nanet Jimenez, Brenda, Agustin and Arnaldo Vega. She has 29 great grandchildren and 2 great-great children.

Visitation services to honor the life of Maria Teresa Rivera will be held at the Marietta Funeral Home on Saturday, October 14, 2023, from 2:00pm-4:00pm.