Lydia Rives

Lydia Larose Rives was born September 17, 1935, in New Orleans, Louisiana, and died peacefully on September 11, 2025. She is survived by daughter Mary Louise Rives; son James Browne Rives and his wife, Magaly Perez Rives; grandson Rene Alexander Rives and his wife, Bevin Amira; grandson Patrick Thomas Rives; granddaughter Raquel Amelia and husband David Johnson; great-granddaughter Amelia; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Lydia was preceded in death by her loving husband, Col. William Thomas “Bill” Rives, Jr.; sons Tom (age 17) and Johnny (age 9); parents Dr. James Brown Larose and Lydia Deynoodt Larose; brothers Dr. James Browne Larose Jr., George Deynoodt Larose, and Michael Joseph Larose; sisters Joy Larose McDade and Belle Larose Lemarie; plus many beloved nieces and nephews.

A proud graduate of The Academy of the Sacred Heart and Loyola University of the South, Lydia earned a Master's degree in Education from West Texas State University and a Master's in Library Science from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. She joyfully dedicated 30 years as an Army wife, moving the family 20 times and raising her four children through diverse circumstances. Lydia served as a librarian for the U.S. Army for 15 years, working in Heidelberg, Germany; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Alexandria, Virginia; the Pentagon Law Library in Washington, D.C.; and Fort Hood, Texas. She was active in the American Librarians Association, especially the Armed Forces Librarians Round Table (AFLRT), serving as Treasurer, Vice President, and President, fostering professional relationships with military librarians worldwide.

Lydia retired in 1997 and remained active in numerous organizations in Sun City, Texas, including Kiwanis; theater and book clubs; Senior University; Eagle Boosters; and the Wall Street Savage Investment Club, where she served as Charter Treasurer.

In 2017, Lydia moved to the Wesleyan Independent Living West in Georgetown, Texas, remaining an avid bridge player and participating in many theater productions. During the last six months of her life, she resided near her son, Jim Rives and his wife, Maggie, in Alexandria, Virginia, where Lydia was dearly loved and well cared for.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, October 17th at 3:00 pm CST at Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic Church in Florence, TX.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Tarahumara Children’s Hospital Fund, P.O. Box 57507, New Orleans, LA 70157, Please see the donation link listed below.