Roberta Rivera

1938 - 2021

Roberta Rivera

Roberta (Bobbie) Irene Rivera





Our beloved

Grandma Bob passed away as the result of a massive stroke on the morning of March 8, 2021 just two days shy of her 83rd birthday. The family wishes to express its appreciation to the doctors, nurses, staff, and palliative care team at UNMH. Their professionalism, knowledge, sensitivity, and excellent communication provided tremendous comfort during this difficult time.

Roberta ("Bobbie") was born to Nellie and Robert Valdez of Santa Fe, New Mexico on March 10, 1938. She was her parents' youngest child and only daughter, and the beloved younger sister to brothers Arthur and Martin "Marty" Valdez. Bobbie and her brothers grew up in our state's capital, instilling in her great pride and affinity for her Santa Fe roots. She relocated to Albuquerque shortly after the birth of her children.

Bobbie pursued a career in cosmetology and eventually opened her own beauty salons and skin care center. Over the years, Miss Deb and The Hairafter became the catalyst for many long lasting friendships between Bobbie and her salon employees and clients who shared her flare for glamour and style. A decade later, Bobbie's dreams led her to the real estate industry where she worked first for Homes Illustrated Magazine, then Artistic Homes. Not only did her charisma and sales skills bring her great success, it again allowed her to cultivate many more enduring friendships.

In the last decade of her life, Bobbie answered a call to serve the children of her home state working for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central New Mexico as a Customer Relations Specialist. Her warmth and inescapable likability coupled with her effortless communication skills, in both English and Spanish, helped the BBBS team accomplish their mission of delivering much-needed hope and joy to vulnerable New Mexican youth.

As a proud native New Mexican, Bobbie celebrated her heritage and tradition. She loved Latino music, and every year attended Mariachi Spectacular. She dressed her walls with colorful artwork as feisty as her spirit. Around her table, relatives and friends received more than strong margaritas and pico de gallo: they received acceptance, words of comfort, and unconditional love. Bobbie folded people into her heart and brought out the best in them.

Bobbie is preceded in death by her mother and father, Nellie and Robert Valdez; husband, Manuel Rivera; her son, Rudy Rivera; her beloved cousin, Cuca Gilliland; and her longtime companion, Carlos Ponce. She is survived by a legacy of family around the world; her daughter, Elaine Breen (Larry); siblings, Arthur Valdez (Betti) and Martin Valdez (Karen); daughter in law Georgia Blanchard (Curtis); sister in law Alice Valdez; grandchildren Larissa Breen (David Tung), Addison Rivera (Fidel Melendez), and Matthew Breen (Shawn Jimenez); great grandchildren Arianna Dominguez and Lucca Melendez; nieces and nephews Valoree Lebron (Ricardo), Robert Valdez, Tom Valdez (Claudia), Valinda Valdez (Victor Dume), John Valdez (Esperanza Alfonso), Vicky Valdez (Salem Rohana), David Valdez (Cindy), and Teresa Martin. Finally, Bobbie's memory will live on in the minds and hearts of her dearly loved cousins, and friends who she kept in touch with through social media and countless texts punctuated with her favorite emojis.

Funeral services will be held on March 26, 2021 at Church of the Incarnation, 2309 Monterrey Rd NE, Rio Rancho, NM with a rosary service beginning at 10:00 AM and Mass to follow at 10:30 AM. A private interment will follow. Due to COVID restrictions, a Celebration of Life will be held at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central New Mexico.