Maya Rivera

Maya Paloma Rivera, 33, passed away on January 30, 2024, in Lubbock, Texas. Please take a moment and share a kind thought or memory with Maya’s family at www.andersonbethany.com. There will be a Visitation at St. John’s Church on Friday, February 9, 2024, from 8:00 Am to 9:30 AM, and a Rosary to begin at 9:30 AM. Mass will also be held at St. John’s Church on Friday, February 9, 2024, at 10:00 am. Interment will follow at South Park Cemetery. On July 24, 1990, Maya was born to Arturo Rivera and Teresa Rivera in Roswell, New Mexico. She attended Roswell High School, where she graduated as an honor student. Maya cherished being a teacher at Monterrey Elementary School and loved all her students very, very much. She always found time to help those most in need and a favorite pastime of Maya’s was taking care of her friends and family. She always had a project to accomplish with loving care. Maya loved her country home, collected cute photos of cows, and was always trying to learn something new every day. Maya will be missed by her family and friends. Those left to eternally treasure and cherish memories of Maya are her parents Arturo Rivera and Teresa Rivera; boyfriend, Bill Akin; her nephews and niece, whom she was practically a mother to and helped raise: Frankie Guzman, Mario Guzman, and Karizma Guzman; brothers: Arturo Rivera and Marin Rivera; aunts and uncles: Mario and Kathy Rivera, Stella and Steve Montes, Esther and Juan Rodriguez, Margaret Gallegos and Patsy Gallegos; close friends: Carolina Anchondo, Myra Alvidrez, Tara de la Cerda, and many good friends from Monterrey Elementary School; her doggies: Lulu, Minny and Bean; her kitty, Meow Meow; special cousins: Anna and Isabel Rivera and Mireya Montes. Also left to eternally treasure and cherish memories of Maya are her boyfriend’s family: Maya’s mother-in-law, Rosa Akin; brothers and sisters-in-law: John Akin, Robert Akin, Larry Akin, Raphael Akin, Maria Akin, and Andrea Gonzales; nieces and nephews: Francisco Guzman, Karizma Guzman, Mario Guzman Casandra Gonzales, Axieana Gonzales, Patrick Gonzales, Angel Gonzales, Freddy Gonzales, Ricky Gonzales, Ayden Gonzales, Weston Gonzales, Leam Akin, Evan Akin, Noah Akin, Sadie Akin, Jaeden Akin, Isabel Akin, and Ezekiel Akin. Maya is preceded in death by her grandparents: Apolonia Rivera, Ruben Rivera, and Elvira Lujan; great-grandparents: Benigna Lujan, Cuca Lucero, George Lujan, Petra and Jose Rivera; siblings: Esther and Rafael Marin; uncles: Mike Gallegos, Fernando Gallegos, and David Rivera. Those blessed to be chosen as honorary pallbearers are Karizma Guzman, the Akin family, and Maya’s nieces and nephews. Those honored to be chosen as pallbearers are Arturo Rivera, Marin Rivera, Ruben Rivera, Leo Rivera, John Akin, and Frankie Akin. Maya’s tribute was lovingly written by her family. “Maya is and shall always be the light of our lives. She reached the hearts of everyone she knew. She was our “Baby Girl” with a big heart full of compassion for those who were most in need. Fly free with the angels my sweet baby girl. Jesus has you in his care, we love you forever more. Our hearts are broken, though we know you are safe with our Father Jesus who needs you more.” - Love Mama Terri and Papa Arturo, your brothers Arturo and Marin, we love you so.

Maya Rivera

July 24, 1990 - January 30, 2024