Rebecca Soliz Rivera

Rebecca Soliz Rivera, 68, of Corpus Christi, Texas was called to eternal life with the Lord on Wednesday, March 23, 2011. She was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, and friend whom will be missed dearly.

Rebecca was born to Jesus E. and Guadalupe Naranjo Soliz on December 10, 1942 in Alice, Texas. She attended Christ the King Elementary School and played the xylophone in the marching band. Becky’s high school years were spent at Incarnate Word Academy and W.B. Ray High School. She was a member of the Prima Deb Girls Club of Corpus Christi.

In 1959, she married Joe G. Aleman, Jr. and moved to Hawthorne, California where Joseph D. and John D. were born. Her professional career in California included work for the Mattel Toy Inc. and for Douglas Aircraft Company in Culver City, California. In 1968, she moved back to Corpus Christi and worked as a secretary for a local attorney and later for the Mobil Oil Corporation. Her second marriage was to Ramiro Rivera of Falfurrias, Texas. They enjoyed riding motorcycles, hunting and camping trips at their land on the Nueces River and throughout the states of Texas, Colorado, and Wyoming. They had two children together, Rebecca Renee and Ramiro, Jr.

Rebecca joined a chapter of Alanon in Corpus Christi where she made many life-long friends and learned spiritual and practical tools that she adhered to throughout her life. When she was no longer able to attend meetings; she frequently shared related experiences with her Alanon friends during their visits and phone calls.

Still optimistic about marriage, she continued to seek “marital bliss” and companionship and married Carl D. Rice in 1982 at the age of 39. The following year, she gave birth to Elizabeth Lupita Rose, her “honeymoon baby;” whom she said “made her family complete.” During that pregnancy, she was stricken with the sudden-onset of Rheumatoid Arthritis, which she would battle for the rest of her life.

Rebecca enjoyed swimming, bowling, hunting and camping with her kids, and delighted in attending and supporting all her children through their numerous sports activities. She cared for many children of working mothers by helping them with their homework and giving them much tender love. Many of those children, as well as their mothers, grew to love her and have continued to show their love for her through phone calls, pictures and visits. But most of all her passion was her children and grandchildren. She especially enjoyed playing board games, computer games, including the Wii with her grandchildren and her best friend and faithful care provider, Diane Rogers, whom she considered her soul-daughter. Being an endless romantic she also enjoyed old movies, especially Gone with the Wind and Phantom of the Opera.

Rebecca was preceded in death by two infant sons, Jose Garcia Aleman III and James Daryl Aleman; as well as her parents, Jesus Soliz and Guadalupe N. Courville.

Survivors include her best friend and care provider, Diane Rogers of Corpus Christi; her children: Joseph Aleman (Krista) of San Antonio, John Aleman of Corpus Christi, Renee Wilson (Matt) of Humble, Ramiro Rivera, Jr. (Sarah) of Austin, Elizabeth Fritz of Corpus Christi; a brother, Rene Soliz of Corpus Christi; sister, Rosario Soliz of Hatch, New Mexico; and niece, Natalie Fehervari of Herndon, Va.; as well as grandchildren: Justin Aleman, Kevin Dardeman, Alexandria and Ashley Wilson, Bray Rivera Crim, and Simon, Molly and Ella Fritz.

Visitation will be held Sunday, March 27, 2011 from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Funeria Del Angel-Memorial Holly with a Rosary recited at 7:00 p.m. that same evening in the chapel.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 28, 2011 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church.

Interment will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.

RUN PD OBIT SUN 3/27 AND MON 3/28 BOTH DAYS WITH TWO PHOTOS

*Please omit visitation and Rosary information for Monday run.