Evelyn Rivera, 75, of Houston, passed away January 20, 2019.  Evelyn was born January 7th, 1944, in Bayamon, Puerto Rico to Maria Teresa and Jose Antonio Rivera (Pepe). She had two sisters, Myrtelina and Myrnaluz, with whom she shared a wonderful childhood. Evelyn would go on to graduate from the University of Puerto Rico with a degree in Chemistry.

She married Elias Ruben Gutierrez and had three sons, Francisco Xavier (1966), Juan Carlos (1969) and Ruben Alberto (1972). Evelyn moved to Houston TX in 1983 following her divorce, and brought the boys with her. They have all made Houston their home and raised families here.

Evelyn continued her education, choosing to get another degree in Child Education. She taught kindergarten for over 30 years at Park Place Elementary. She was a dedicated and loving teacher in an area of low incomes, poor families, with many challenges. These things did not scare her away, instead, she became a fierce advocate for children and the disadvantaged.

Eventually, she met Pat O'Neal, at a time in her life when she thought that she was 'unlucky in love' and past the time to start romance. But instead, she fell in love with the knight in shining armor who liked to ply the seas on a sailboat.

Meanwhile, starting in year 2000, beautiful granddaughters were born. Sofia Paola, Caitlyn Maria, Kristina Monet, Noelle Alicia, and Emily Marie, would become her 'jewels', and her devotion to the girls was incomparable. Evelyn became the nucleus of the family which grew around her, and her name changed to Mima (also incorrectly pronounced Mamina by some

MIMA and Pat were joined by Sandy, the personable little poodle, and created a home that was welcoming and warm to all that visited them in Houston. It is there that she chose to spend the last remaining weeks of her life, not anywhere else. And it is there that she peacefully passed away on January 20th, 2019 with Pat by her side.

She is survived by her husband, Pat O'Neal; sons, Cisco X. Gutierrez, Juan C. Gutierrez, and Ruben A. Gutierrez; daughters-in-law, Marta Gutierrez, Tracy Gutierrez, and Tina Gutierrez; sisters, Myrna Luz Rivera, and Myrtelina Cintron ; granddaughters, Caitlyn Gutierrez, Noelle A. Gutierrez, Kristina M Gutierrez, Emily M. Gutierrez, and Sophia P. Gutierrez.