Cesar "Lito" Ventura Rivera

Cesar Ventura Rivera, 68, was born on July 6, 1945 in Baguio City, Philippines. He was known as "Lito" to many friends, co-workers and family, and known as "Lolo" to his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and wife's daycare children. Lito passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on October 20, 2013.

Lito joined the U.S. Navy at the age of 18 to retire as an MS1 after 20 years of service. Afterwards, he continued his education by becoming an RN. After working 21 years at St. Vincent's Hospital, Lito retired for the 2nd time. He continued working at Baptist Medical Center for several more years before fully retiring.

Lito was known to many as an easy-going, fun-loving, charismatic person. He loved his family, enjoyed goofing around with his karate moves and acrobatic flips, would speak the tagalog language to babies, landscaped his yards, talked into home improvement projects by his wife, and still kept his night schedule with sleeping during the day after retirement even till his last day with us.

Lito was preceded in death by his parents, Pedro and Anastacia, his brothers, Efrem, Rodrigo and Doming, his son Randall, and great-granddaughter TyeAnne. He is survived by wife, Therese "Tari" Burns Rivera; 7 children: John Vann (Kim), Yvonne Daugherty Ballantyne, Thomas "Buddy" Rivera, Mardonio V. Rivera Sr. (Kelly), Troy Rivera (Anett), Tharon Rivera (Karen), and Damian Rivera; 8 grandchildren: Alishia Bauman, Joshua Rivera, Amber Henderson, Mardonio Jr., Sean, Carly and Varik; 2 great-grandchildren, Kalgary and Tucker; Siblings, Antonio (Linda), Benjamin (Kathy), Pedrito (Sol), Remedios Go (Joselito), Milagros Rosenow (Steve), Artemio (Annie), and Ricardo (Leah).

Visitation with the family will be from 6-8 p.m.on Thursday October 24th with the Rosary service at 7:00 p.m. at Hardage-Giddens Blanding Blvd. Chapel 5753 Blanding Blvd, Jacksonville, Florida The Funeral Mass will be Friday October 25th, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church 5752 Blanding Blvd Jacksonville, Florida. Burial will follow at The Jacksonville National Cemetery 4083 Lannie Road Jacksonville, Florida.

In lieu of flowers, please remember Lito and his family in your prayers. Donations in his memory can be made to either the Sacred Heart Building Fund at 5752 Blanding Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32210 or to San Francisco Catholic Church in Quezon, Philippines.

Arrangements under the care of Hardage-Giddens Blanding Blvd Chapel. 1-904-777-5727