Filiberto "Fele" Rivera Santiago

Tributes~Filiberto "Fele" Rivera Santiago

Filiberto "Fele" Rivera Santiago
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Date of Birth: 
1925
Date of Death: 
August 17 2016

All Souls parishioner, 91 year old Filiberto Rivera Santiago of Sanford passed away Wednesday, August 17, 2016. Filiberto was born in Aibonito, Puerto Rico. He served proudly in the U.S. Army for 21 years, retiring as platoon sergeant in 1968. He was a member of the 65th Infantry Regiment Borinqueneers, which was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. The 65th was the highest decorated outfit of the Korean War. After his military service, he served for 20 years at the State of New Jersey as a corrections officer at the Midstate Correctional Facility.

Filiberto was preceded in death by his devoted wife, Maria Garcia Ramos of 53 years, his parents, five brothers and one sister. He is survived by six children: Amilcar Rivera and wife Iris, Filberto Rivera of Florida, Arnaldo Rivera of Florida, Marilia Rivera and husband Manuel Perez of New Jersey, and Mabel Rivera of New York; his sister Gloria Castillo and husband Horge, his sister Modesta Zayas, his brother Sandalio Rivera, his loving goddaughter Nilda Martinez and husband Anibal, and all loving and caring family members.

A Mass for Filiberto was held at 12 noon, Saturday, August 27, at All Souls Catholic Church, 800 S. Oak Avenue, Sanford, Florida followed by burial in Oaklawn Park Cemetery, Sanford.

Media data: 
Place of Birth: 
Aibonito, Puerto Rico
Place of Death: 
Sanford, Florida, United States
Primary State of Residence: 
New Jersey, United States

Comments (3)

Tio Fele, you will never be forgotten by people that loved you and respected you for the way you lived your life. You were a giving person, as I specifically recall my mom saying that you brought her food to feed 5 children, when my father, your brother was in the service. You were there for me when I moved to Orlando and had nothing but my 2 daughters and Tony was working in Tampa. You and Maria came over with some dishes, sheets, food, etc. You always came when your family needed you (nieces, nephews) you filled your brothers shoes when they too passed before you. You served our country in 3 wars and you brought up 5 kids, 1 with a condition that depended on you 24 hours a day and you did it with all your heart.
You are in a better place with your family that went before you waiting for all of us to be together again.
Rest in Peace Sargent Feliberto Rivera Santiago
Mercedes Rivera Amaro

My uncle Tío Fele as we all called him for short. Filiberto Rivera Santiago. A brave, intelligent, caring, I never saw nor heard him give up on life, a strict teacher on life in order to see extraudinary results! He for me as a little girl was the uncle with the house with a beautiful wife Titi Maryita, and fun cousins, I would look forward anxiously to visit a house in the country in fort Dix, New Jersey. Me as an adult, on my relocation from New York to Florida job related, he together with his wife, his sister Titi Gloria and her husband Tío Jorge took me to Tampa Florida to help me hunt for apartments, yet again when I needed to move later on to another apartment him together with that same group of uncles helped me move! I admired him and loved him so as circumstances, distances I always thought of him and loved him with all my HEART! Tío Fele rest in peace you can trust We All Got This! Thank you for your love! Your Niece Maritza Rivera Rodriguez hugs & Kisses to the whole Family Rivera
Maritza Rivera

Mucha fortaleza para la Familia Rivera Santiago por la perdida de nuestro Tio Filiberto un ejemplo como buen padre, esposo, hijo nos sentimos muy orgulloso de tenerlo por muchos años QEPD
Sandra Rivera

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