Margarita Rivera

Margarita Rivera, age 71, peacefully passed away on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, at Newton Medical Center. Born in Puerto Rico to the late Teofilo Rivera and Fermina Miranda, Margarita came to the United States in 1962 and lived in Passaic before moving to Sussex County in 1969. She recently moved to Hackettstown this past year.

Margarita had been a home health aide and recently retired five years ago.

She was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Hackettstown.

Margarita was predeceased by her husband, Miguel Matos, in 1966 and her grandson, Gaviel Matos, in 1987, and her great granddaughter, Yelianies Marrero, in 2011. She is survived by her two sons, Miguel Matos of Hampton and Armando Matos of Franklin; her three daughters, Yolanda Talmadge of Wantage, Shelvee Ritchie of Franklin, and Damaris Aponte of Wantage; her brothers and sisters, Samuel, Carmen, Josefa, Jose, Lydia, Anelia, Norma, Eneida, and Jose Luis; and nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Private cremation services will be held at the convenience of the family. Memorial services will held at 11 a.m. at the Tranquility Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1 Academy Lane, Andover, NJ 07821 on Sunday, March 2, 2014. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Pinkel Funeral Home, 31 Bank Street, Sussex, New Jersey. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations may be made in Margarita's memory to the American Diabetes Foundation, 1701 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.pinkelfuneralhome.com.