Cecilia Esther Santa Maria Rivera Gannon.
On September 11, 1929, Cecilia Esther Santa Maria Rivera was born in the coastal town of David, Panama, and raised in the nearby mountain village of Boquete, famous for its coffee plantations and orchids. Cecilia was destined to spend over 70-years on the Great Plains of America, in Des Moines, Iowa, where she raised five children, outlived two husbands, and discovered a career that she loved. On January 8, 2026, at the age of 96, Cecilia peacefully surrendered to late-stage Dementia, surrounded by her devoted family.
Cecilia was a hard worker, despite her regular manicures. She spent over 25 years at Mercy Hospital in the surgical suite helping to save lives and doing what she loved to do. She was everyone's favorite with her quick smile, open-hearted generosity, and willingness to lend a hand. A great dancer, she also appreciated a frosty Margarita, cooking and gardening, and traveling the world with her children.
Cecilia was the second of four daughters born to her parents Florentino Rivera (deceased) and Bienvenida Santa Maria Rivera (deceased) and is survived by her siblings, Marina Pitti, Hilda Romney (Charles), and Fernanda Rivera, and her children, Ruth Smith, Beverly Davis, George Rivera Davis (Jan), Susan Davis and daughter-in-law, Dianne Davis. Cecilia's son, Francis Raymond (Ray) Davis, Jr., proceeded her in death. Cecilia is survived by her nephews, Tomas Pitti and Oscar Pitti and her grandchildren, Ami Copeland (Stevi Steines), Cecilia Copeland, Nichole Staker (Kenneth Brooks), Garrett Davis (Chrissy Keller), Lauren Rolfes (Dylan), Emily VanKooten (Ingram), Susan Rowe and Sharon Marquez. She leaves a host of great-grandchildren she adored and whom adored her.
On September 11, 1929, Cecilia Esther Santa Maria Rivera was born in the coastal town of David, Panama, and raised in the nearby mountain village of Boquete, famous for its coffee plantations and orchids. Cecilia was destined to spend over 70-years on the Great Plains of America, in Des Moines, Iowa, where she raised five children, outlived two husbands, and discovered a career that she loved. On January 8, 2026, at the age of 96, Cecilia peacefully surrendered to late-stage Dementia, surrounded by her devoted family.
Cecilia was a hard worker, despite her regular manicures. She spent over 25 years at Mercy Hospital in the surgical suite helping to save lives and doing what she loved to do. She was everyone's favorite with her quick smile, open-hearted generosity, and willingness to lend a hand. A great dancer, she also appreciated a frosty Margarita, cooking and gardening, and traveling the world with her children.
Cecilia was the second of four daughters born to her parents Florentino Rivera (deceased) and Bienvenida Santa Maria Rivera (deceased) and is survived by her siblings, Marina Pitti, Hilda Romney (Charles), and Fernanda Rivera, and her children, Ruth Smith, Beverly Davis, George Rivera Davis (Jan), Susan Davis and daughter-in-law, Dianne Davis. Cecilia's son, Francis Raymond (Ray) Davis, Jr., proceeded her in death. Cecilia is survived by her nephews, Tomas Pitti and Oscar Pitti and her grandchildren, Ami Copeland (Stevi Steines), Cecilia Copeland, Nichole Staker (Kenneth Brooks), Garrett Davis (Chrissy Keller), Lauren Rolfes (Dylan), Emily VanKooten (Ingram), Susan Rowe and Sharon Marquez. She leaves a host of great-grandchildren she adored and whom adored her.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Cecilia Esther Gannon, please visit our flower store.
Cecilia Esther Gannon's Guestbook
Visits: 30
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors