Hilario Rivera

Hilario often told the story about how he roamed many Mexican states and U.S cities until one faithful freight train ride brought him to Chicago, Illinois. He was a young man, with a first grade education, who taught himself how to speak, read, and write English by frequenting Chicago bars. He was never one to take “no” for an answer, and his dogged determination would eventually get him a job at the South Water Market, where he developed an expertise for picking quality fruits and vegetables, and telling off-color jokes.

That’s how people will remember him, for his ability to tell tall tales and fill the air with laughter. In 2000, Hilario decided that Texas needed his sunny disposition and moved his family to Texas. Once he established himself, he declared himself the “Sun of Grand Prairie, TX.” Undoubtedly, his light was bright, as he was loved dearly by all of his co-workers and colleagues at Fresh Express, where he had been a supervisor since 2002.

But nobody loved him more than his wife, his “chinita linda,” Silvia Teresa Rivera, his wife of 34 years. He often would tell her that he loved her to the moon and back on a turtle riding backwards. Their love gave fruit to his daughters Silvia “Bibis” Rivera from Chicago Illinois and Cynthia Todd from Waukegan Illinois; and his son Orlando Rivera from Grand Prairie, TX. He doted over his three granddaughters: Teresa Marie Todd, Ava Sofia Todd, and Olivia Amada Rodriguez. Hilario is also survived by his loving brother,Servando Rivera.

Hilario is preceded in death by his parents, Abundio and Amada Rivera, as well as his brother, Efren Rivera.

His legacy not only lives on through his children, but through the many nieces and nephews who dearly loved him.

Hilario battled with Multiple Myeloma, but cancer never claimed his life. In his darkest hours he mustered the strength to tell a joke, laugh, and be kind to others. The sun will always shine bright in Grand Prairie, TX because of the life he lived.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Funeraria Del Angel in Grand Prairie Texas.Visitation will be on Sunday, June 14, 2015 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., with rosary at 5:00 p.m..

Service will be on Monday, June 15, 2015, at Immaculate Conception Church in Grand Prairie at 2:00 PM