Viola Helen Rivera-Serrano

1928 - 2016

Viola Helen Rivera-Serrano
Feb. 28, 1928 - June 13, 2016
KNOX - Viola Helen Rivera-Serrano (Nee Hawman), age 88, of Knox passed away Monday, June 13, 2016 at the Catherine Kasper Home in Plymouth. Viola was born Feb. 28, 1928 in Detroit, Mich. to the late Charles and Helen (Griffith) Hawman. To differentiate between her and her mother everyone called her "Little Helen". She was a retired secretary for Catholic Family Services in Portage, but Viola could do just about anything to which she set her mind. She joined the Civil Air Patrol in high school, worked at the Adrian, Mich. airport to pay for flight lessons. She soloed at 16 and was a pilot at 17. She married fellow pilot Tomas Rivera-Serrano in 1949 and had five children. Despite having only a high school education, she did all the financial and tax work for their Gary retail store. Helen was a loving mother, grandmother and wife.
Viola is survived by her five children, Thalia (Wilfred) Hernandez of Portage, Mirna (Michael) Dault of Knox, Thomas (Laura) Rivera Jr. of Glenn Heights, Texas, Virginia Rivera of Dunedin, Fla. and Maria Lisa Rivera of Hammond; two halfbrothers John (Cherri) Duve of Michigan and William Duve of New York; three stepsiblings Elizabeth, John and Vera; six grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends around the country.
Viola was preceded in death by her husband Tomas Rivera-Serrano.
Viola wished to be cremated with no attended services.
In lieu of flowers memorial gifts are preferred to the Alzheimer's Association.
Online condolences may be submitted at www.reesfuneralhomes.com.