Born on September 11, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Francisco Montejano and Felipa Rico. She spent her early years in Zamora, Michoacán, Mexico, before eventually building a life in the United States rooted in faith, family, hard work, and service to others.
In addition to her parents, Crecensiana was reunited in Heaven with her beloved husband, Heriberto Rivera, who passed away on September 17, 2024.
A member of Holy Guardian Angels Parish, Crecensiana was deeply devoted to her Catholic faith, which guided her throughout her life and provided her with strength, purpose, and compassion for others.
She worked for many years as a seamstress with Temple Industries and was also known throughout the local mushroom plant community for sharing her culinary talents as an independent cooking vendor. Cooking was more than a skill for Crecensiana; it was her love language. She found great joy in preparing meals for family, friends, and her community. Through her cooking, she also helped support organizations that assisted immigrants pursuing legal residency and citizenship, a cause that was especially meaningful to her.
A lifelong learner, Crecensiana attended classes through the Literacy Council of Reading-Berks, where she participated in literacy, English language, and citizenship programs. With support from her family and community, she proudly achieved one of her greatest accomplishments by becoming a United States citizen.
Crecensiana enjoyed knitting and was a member of Nice Knitters of Muhlenberg, a nonprofit organization that creates handmade items for local charities. She also found happiness tending to her flower and vegetable gardens, reading her favorite novelas, trying her luck at the penny slots, and spending time with her dogs, which she adored.
Above all else, Crecensiana cherished her family. Her children and grandchildren were the center of her world, and she treasured every opportunity to gather around the table, share stories, and create lasting memories with those she loved.
Her legacy of faith, perseverance, and unconditional love will be carried on by her son, Edgardo Rivera, and his wife, Michele Rivera; her son, Heriberto Rivera Jr.; her daughter, Beatrice Rivera and her husband, Manuel DeJesus; her daughter, Guadalupe Kasper and her husband, Brandon Kasper; and her beloved grandchildren, Vanessa, Olivia, Andre, Anthony, Katalina, and Amelia.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Peter the Apostle Church, 322 S. 5th Street, Reading, PA 19602, with Monsignor Orsulak officiating. Inurnment will immediately follow at Berks County Memorial Gardens, 201 Evansville Road, Fleetwood, PA 19522.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Literacy Council of Reading-Berks, 450 S. 6th Street, Reading, PA 19602 (lcrb.org/#donate), and/or Aldea PJC, 532 Walnut Street, Reading, PA 19601 (aldeapjc.org/ways-to-give).
