Kathy Rivera, 59
Kathy Rivera, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, died on Monday, November 4, 2019. She was 59.
Kathy’s life was spent serving God and caring for people. With her passionate urgency, wisdom and encouragement, she influenced many. Even after her cancer diagnosis four years ago, Kathy found a way to connect with caregivers and patients, from the infusion room to the medical staff. She once said, “My ministry is oncology.”
Kathy was born in Germany, and grew up in England, the fourth of Jim and Nancy Murray’s six children. She moved with her family to Alabama, California and then to South Miami, Florida. There as a teenager, Kathy committed her life to Jesus Christ in the spring of 1974. She became an active member of Wayside Baptist Church and grew in faith. After high school, Kathy attended Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California, where she met Sergio Rivera. They were married in 1985 and were blessed with three children: Joshua, Rebekah and Hannah and then four grandchildren: Giselle, Caleb, Benjamin and Keira.
Kathy and Sergio spent much of their married life in different forms of ministry. They served as missionaries to Mexico, in an associate pastor position in Indiana, worked on a church-planting team in Texas and welcomed international students into their home. Late last year, Kathy and Sergio updated their passports in preparation for whatever next opportunity God would provide. Kathy home-schooled her children based on Biblical principles, encouraging them each to live and share their faith wherever they happened to be in the world.
When a door opened in the pacific northwest for ministry, Kathy and Sergio moved to the Silver Valley. Sergio became the pastor of First Baptist Church of Kellogg. At the church, Kathy was a wise counselor and encourager for the entire church family. During this time, Kathy worked as an Aide at Kellogg High School, where she helped struggling students to graduate.
Kathy loved God’s word and she shared that word in every conversation. Because she was a gifted (and hilarious) storyteller, many people encountered the truth of the Gospel in a seemingly casual chat with Kathy. She had a heart for young adults, and often encouraged people to trust God with their future.
Kathy’s own future changed after her diagnosis. She became a minister of hope to those struggling with disease. She devoted herself to her grown children and her grandchildren. She looked for ways to help, asked everyone else what they dreamed of doing and encouraged everyone, even when her energy was low.
Kathy is preceded in death by her brother Paul, her father Jim, her father-in-law Ben, her mother-in-law Carmela and her nephew Daniel. She is survived by her husband Sergio, her children Joshua (Brittany), Rebekah (Greg) and Hannah and the grandchildren Giselle, Caleb, Benjamin and Keira, her sisters Cyndie, Leslee and Laura and her brother Michael. She also leaves behind an extended family of friends too numerous to list in this space.
I don’t think there was a moment of my sister’s life when she was not trying to make something or someone better. Her personality filled every room and her voice took over most conversations with a mountain of care and a sense of urgency that could not be ignored.
Kathy will be greatly missed by her family and the many people fortunate enough to be called her friend. She is with Jesus now, and past the reach of all pain and suffering. A service to celebrate Kathy’s life will be held at the Altar Church, 901 E Best Ave, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814 on Friday, November 15 at 1:30 pm.
Please visit Kathy’s online memorial at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com