Milagros Rivera

Milagros Quizon Rivera, age 87, passed quietly at Singing River Hospital in Gulfport, MS on Sunday, surrounded by her loving husband of 66 years and their children and grandchildren. A funeral service is planned for Wednesday, November 11 at 10 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Gulfport, MS with Father Joseph Uko officiating. Interment will follow in Finley Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church on Wednesday from 8:30-10am. RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport, is honored to be entrusted with arrangements.

Milagros was born on May 10, 1933 in the Philippines. She was one of three children born to Florentino Quizon and Francisca Rivera. She is survived by her husband, Rodolfo B. Rivera and her six children: Emmanuel Rivera, Jorge Rivera, Rolando Rivera, Manolo Rivera, Maria Fatima R. Tuliao, and Ferdinand Rivera.

She has 17 grandchildren: MaryAnne smith, Pauline Rosario Rivera, Amiel Rivera, Roland Rivera, Nles Reyes Rivera, Job Reyes Rivera, Christopher Rivera, Emil John Rivera, Loubelle Rivera, Madeleine Rivera, Monique Rivera, John Benedict Rivera, Juan Miguel Rivera, Angelica Rivera, Theresa Fae Tuliao, Theodore Moises Tuliao, and Timothy John Tuliao.

Milagros is preceded in death by her sibling, Victoria Santos.

Milagros met Rodolfo when he worked at the Cesar Basa Air Base, an airbase operated by the Philippine Air Force. She married Rodolfo at 21 years old on July 30, 1954. The couple raised their six children in the Philippines before moving to Gulfport, MS in March 1992. They joined their son, Jorge, who was serving at the Naval Construction Battalion Center at the time.

Milagros worked at the U.S. Naval Base Child Development Center SEABEE Base Gulfport as a child development specialist for more than 15 years. However, she will be most remembered as a loving mother and doting grandmother. Though she was fortunate to have three sons within a five-mile radius in Gulfport, many of Milagros’ children and grandchildren lived in different states and countries. Still, Milagros bridged the distances with phone calls. She frequently called many of her children and grandchildren just to check in and see how they were doing. To her, family came first.

Her grandchildren, in particular, brought her immense joy. Milagros loved seeing her grandchildren together during the holidays, spread out on the floor, laughing as they played card games. The reunions were simple but priceless. Her only desire was to have witnessed more of them, as she knew time was short. Those who lived oceans apart and were unable to attend the reunions were never far from Milagros’ heart. She would always ask about her grandchildren in the Philippines and Australia and prayed for their health and safety.

In fact, the only person Milagros loved more than her own family was God. If you visit her home in Gulfport, you’ll be able to quickly gather what she valued most with a simple scan of the rooms. Photos of her husband, children, and grandchildren hang on the walls and sit on the shelves, but you’ll see even more religious photos and phrases. She attended church every Sunday, and she often prayed for her loved ones. Prayer was Milagros’ most valuable gift, and she gave it everyday.

The last few months of Milagros’ life were physically difficult. Her illnesses were getting worse, and she made several trips to the hospital. However, she kept a brave face, and her faith never wavered. As her health deteriorated, she came to the realization that her days were numbered. So, she prayed even harder…not for herself but for her soul mate, her sons, her daughter, her grandchildren.

She’s still praying for us, and she always will. This time though, she’s doing so from above.

TO MY DEAREST MOMMY,

“Sige na mommy.” It hurts, but you have to go. Mother Mary will be with you. Wherever you are, I know you will always pray for us and guide us. I will miss you so much. I will miss our “chismisan” as what daddy says whenever we video chat. I love you.” You’ll have an abundance of everything in heaven, and you’ll never worry at all. Don’t worry about us and Daddy. I love you so much.