Hazel Cecilia Rivera

Mrs. Hazel Cecilia Welch Rivera was born in Ironsides, Maryland in 1927 to Adella and John Welch. She spent her childhood in La Plata, Maryland growing up on her Grandparents' farm. As one of the first women in her family to receive a scholarship, Hazel attended the University of Maryland and graduated in 1950.
Following college, Hazel started her career working for the National Security Agency in Washington, DC. There she met the "love of her life," Ismael Rivera, and they were married in 1957. Ismael's career as a foreign diplomat led Hazel and their family across the world to countries including Costa Rica, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Benin, Burundi, France and Nigeria. Hazel and Ismael raised their three children, Patricia, Kenneth, and Roland, while traveling and working at different embassies across the globe.
After decades of venturing back and forth from the U.S, Hazel and Ismael planted their roots in Chalybeate Springs and Sanford and worked at Campbell University's Book Store. Later in life, Hazel began painting for a hobby and her family and friends discovered that she was an incredible artist. Her stunning works of landscapes and portraits presently hang in all her loved one's homes. In all her adventures in life, her greatest joy was always her family.
Beyond her legacy of love of family, hard work, determination, care, and good cooking, Hazel is survived by her three children, Patricia Rivera, Kenneth (Kim) Rivera, and Roland (Janice) Rivera; Grandchildren Kaley (Gage) Thompson, Kristin (Jacob) Dixon and Joshua Rivera and Step-grandchild Shaun Harmon; three great-grandchildren, Adelina Thompson, Liliana Thompson and Cecilia Thompson; and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ismael; mother and father, Adella and John "Doc" Welch; and siblings, Mildred (Everette) Bowie, John "Junior" Welch and Harry Welch.
She was loved dearly and will be greatly missed.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, from 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM at Bridges-Cameron Funeral Home. The funeral service will follow at 1:00 PM in the chapel with Fr. Craig Lister officiating. Burial will follow in Chalybeate Springs Baptist Church Cemetery, 238 Chalybeate Road, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
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