Ivette Colón

Ivette (Rivera) Colón, 61, of West Haven, CT entered into eternal life on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 surrounded by her loving family.

She entered this world on August 11, 1964, in the place that forever held her heart, Puerto Rico. Born in Rio Piedras to Reverend Inocencio Rivera and Carmen Lydia (Pagán) Rivera, she was the eldest of three children. Her sister Jannette, and her brother, Alex completed the family the cherished so deeply.

In the 1970's, the Rivera family traded the warm breezes of Puerto Rico for a new beginning in New Haven, Connecticut, where their roots continued to grow strong. It was there that Ivette's life would unfold in the most beautiful of ways.

In 1989, Ivette met the love of her life, just as God had promised her. She described him as her tall, blonde-haired, blue eyed soulmate, Carlos Rafael Colón. The two were brought together thanks to her sister, Jannette, who introduced them.

Their young love blossomed into a family with the arrival of their first son, her honeymoon baby, Carlos Rafael, Jr., on March 21, 1990. Their second son, Christian Jovani, followed on September 20, five years later. Her boys were the joy of her life, the purpose behind her prayers, and the pride she carried everywhere she went. Anyone who crossed her path-whether in a store, during a hallway conversation, or in a passing encounter-knew that her oldest was a pharmacist and her youngest was a news reporter.

From a young age, Ivette followed God's calling with a wide-open heart. Her gift was her voice-strong,soulful, and filled with the Holy Spirit. She sang and worshipped for decades. She played the drums at church, lifted her voice in praise, and as a teen she even recorded her own music tapes. Her joy brightened even the heaviest of days.

But Ivette's ministry extended far beyond music. She lived every single day with the purpose: to help others.

Ivette devoted her entire career to serving the vulnerable through her work in healthcare. She stood up for low-income families and for those without legal status. She guided the voiceless and made sure no one ever felt alone in their hardest moments.

In the early 2000s, she was interviewed about her work at Yale and shared these words that captured her heart perfectly:

"Not everyone is lucky enough to have a job where the basic job description is helping people. I am."

Because of Ivette's unwavering compassion, countless families found stability, medical care, and hope. Her love changed lives-quietly, humbly, and powerfully.

To know Ivette was to know kindness, joy, and the love of God. She had a way of showing up at the exact moment someone needed her-offering a shoulder, a prayer, a word of encouragement, or her unforgettable warm smile. She was the kind of person who made the world feel lighter simply by being in it.

In honor of Ivette, may we all strive to live as she did: by helping our neighbors, offering comfort without hesitation, choosing joy even on difficult days, and always capturing the moment with a picture.

Ivette's spirit will live on in every life she touched, every heart she lifted, and every act of compassion inspired by her example. Though we feel the weight of her absence, we find comfort knowing she is now resting in the arms of the Lord she served so faithfully. May her memory be eternal.

Ivette's family will receive relatives and friends on Monday, December 15th from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Radiant Star of Jacob Christian Church (Iglesia Cristiana Estrella Resplandeciente de Jacob), 185 Chapel St., New Haven. A funeral service will take place at the church during visitation time beginning at 7:00 p.m. Her family will again receive guests on Tuesday, December 16th at the Washington Memorial Funeral Home, 4 Washington Ave., North Haven from 10 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Burial will be in Cidra, Puerto Rico at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, and in gratitude for the compassionate care Ivette received at Smilow Cancer Hospital, please send donations in her honor to Yale New Haven Hospital (Office of Development, P.O. Box 1849, New Haven, CT 06508). Donations can also be made online at givetoynhh.org/memorial, or to CT Brain Tumor Alliance, https://www.ctbta.org/support-fight/how-give washingtonmemorialfh.com