Katie "Nani” Rivera

Katie “Nani” Rivera

Katie "Nani” Rivera was born April 24, 1932 to Jacobo and Juanita De Herrera in Cuba, New Mexico. She attended Cuba High School and then went on to business school in Albuquerque and received her bachelor’s in education from the University of New Mexico. She met her husband Roy Rivera at St. Joseph’s College. They married on August 25, 2025.

Katie retired from the Albuquerque Public Schools System after teaching fourth grade at Emerson, Dolores Gonzales, Los Padillas, Eubank and Hodgin elementary schools. She also earned her Master of Arts from UNM in Bilingual Education. After retirement she took care of her granddaughters and joined her husband at the farm in Sile, NM.

Katie completed her pilgrimage into eternity on Wednesday June 4, 2025, exactly nine months after her husband, Roy Rivera. She is now reunited with Roy, father Jacobo, mother Juanita, brothers, Lalo & Willie; sisters, Emma, Elodia, & Anna; brothers-in-law, Clyde Sr., Gil,

Joe, James, Fred, and Mike; sisters-in-law Olivia, Helen, Clovia, Pita, & Kathy; and many primos and primas.

Katie is survived by her son Ángel, daughter-in-law, Frances, granddaughters, Sharayah & Rachael. She is also survived by her brothers, Felimon, Jake & Elden; brothers-in-law, George, Lisandro Jr, Bernie & David; sisters-in-law, Agatha, Viola, Patsy, Mary Ann, Virginia, Edna, Josie & Melba; godchildren, Doris, Clara, Marty, & Donna, and many primos and primas.

A loving host of nephews and nieces, second primos, neighbors and friends, all have kind words to say about her, and her genuine love for all.