Theresa Irene Rivera

Theresa Irene Rivera, 85, of San Antonio, Texas, was born on October 18, 1940, and passed away on July 30, 2026. Theresa’s life was marked by the quiet, enduring kind of love that shows itself in steady hands, a listening heart, and a home made gentler by her presence.

Born in San Antonio, Theresa attended Providence High School and remained rooted in the place that first shaped her—carrying forward a deep sense of family and devotion. She was preceded in death by her father, Elpidio G. Reyes; her mother, Mercedes Reyes; and her brother, Elpidio H. Reyes.

Theresa worked for 20 years as a dental assistant and retired from Fort Sam Houston. In her work, as in her life, she offered care not as a gesture, but as a way of being.

She will be remembered for being a caregiver for her mom, dad, and grandchildren, and for the everyday tenderness she gave so freely. Theresa’s love also lived in the small, memorable comforts that gathered people close, especially her famous Mexican rice.

Theresa’s heart had room for every living thing. She loved animals deeply, and her compassion was unmistakable in the way she raised a newborn deer abandoned by its mother—a deer that continued living around her house for the last 15 years, a gentle reminder of the refuge she so naturally provided. She especially cherished Binky and Bella, holding them close as part of the family she lovingly kept.

Theresa is survived by her sons Ron Rivera (Rachel Calderon) and Michael Rivera; her daughter Tisha Alanis (Alex); her brother Ricardo Reyes (Anita), and sister JoAnn Cobarruvias (Larry); her grandsons Christian Rivera (Michelle) and Jonathan Rivera (Emmanuel Rodriguez); her granddaughters Sarah Silva (Julian) and Emily Alanis; and her great-grandsons Jonah Rivera, Jayce Silva, and Roman Rivera.

Visitation will be held at Sunset Northwest Funeral Home, 6321 Bandera Rd, San Antonio, Texas 78238, on August 10, 2026, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. A Rosary will be held there on August 10, 2026, at 7:00 pm. Funeral Service will be held at Sunset Northwest Funeral Home on August 11, 2026, at 10:00 am. Interment will follow at San Fernando Cemetery II, 746 Castroville Road, San Antonio, Texas 78737, USA, on August 11, 2026, at 11:30 am.

In the days ahead, those who loved Theresa will carry her forward in the simplest, truest ways: in acts of care offered without being asked, in the comfort of familiar food shared at a table, and in kindness extended to every creature that needs it. She was, and will remain, deeply beloved.