Charles Joseph Rivera, age 76, of Phoenix, Arizona passed away peacefully at home with loved ones at his side on Friday, April 25, 2025.
The world welcomed Charles on Saturday, March 19, 1949, to mother Mary Lou Verdugo and father Charlie Rivera in Phoenix, Arizona.
Charles, also known as Nick Rivera, attended Carl Hayden High School and graduated in 1967. While attending Carl Hayden High School, Nick played the sports he enjoyed the most, he was on the Varsity Basketball team and participated in the High-Jump for Carl Hayden High School . Nick’s love for sportswasn’t just playing it but Coaching, He coached Basketball for the Youth in the early 2000’s for a team called The Wizards.
On November 8th, 1988, Nick met the love of his life Sylvia Peralta, Sylvia and Charles married on March 20th, 1999 at The Wright House in Mesa, AZ. For over 25 years they have resided in Arizona, in cities Tempe, Gilbert, and Mesa. They have called Mesa home for more than 15 years, where they were close to their loved ones, children and grandchildren.
Nick spent most of his life with his children, grandchildren, and his wife who he adored. Celebrating birthdays, holidays, milestones and making memories with his family was something that Nick enjoyed doing the most. Especially swimming with his grandchildren and cooking, listening and jamming out to his music and having the grandkids spend the night at grandma and tata’s house. His passion was cooking, he put his heart and soul in his food, he enjoyed cooking especially for Sylvia. Spanish dishes were his favorite to make, especially if it was the Oaxaca recipes. Oaxaca was his family restaurant serving locations in Phoenix on 15th avenue and Van Buren, Pinnacle Peak, 35th avenue and Bethany, in Tempe on Ruraland Southern Avenue and another Oaxaca located in the Sky Harbor Airport.
For the majority of Nick’s life he worked at the Oaxaca Restaurants. Nick worked hard to support his family, he also worked at a family-favorite Restaurant… Rosita’s as well as many others. Nick and hiswife also worked at Pancho’s Restaurant together for a moment in theirlives, making a favorite Mexican pastry, Sopapillas.
After retiring in 2009, Nick spent the rest of his life caring for his wife and family, always lookingafter them, doing activities and enjoying the hobbies he loved most.Watching sports and cheering on the Cardinals, Diamondbacks, and Phoenix Suns, was his favorite to do, as well as listen to his Mo-Town music on his record player and CD player. Not only was Nick a loving, endearing, and caring father, brother and grandfather to his own, he treated everyone else around him with kindness, gratuity, and love as if they were his own. His free spirit uplifted many rooms and his presence was warm-hearted, he truly is one of a kind. Although Nick has left the world, he will never be forgotten and will forever be in our hearts.
Children (Step): Michele, Jack jr. (Deceased), Micheal Sr., Bernice, AngelGrandchildren: Nathan (Deceased), Kanya, Megan, Feliciana, Micheal Jr.,Lorenzo, Lena, Maurice, Kevin, Jordan, Kiana, Marissa, Daniella, Saul,AngelenaGreat-Grandchildren: 6+Siblings: Harold (Deceased), Tommy, Beverly, Ronald, DonaldIn our hearts, you will always stay, loved and remembered everyday. Your legacy lives on in the love and values you instilled in us.”
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