Rivera Family Funeral Home

Matthew M. Rivera, Sr.

Matthew Rivera, Sr.
Licensed Funeral Director/General Manager

matt@riverafh.com

Born in Pueblo, Colorado, Matthew was raised in the family funeral home with  2 brothers and 3 sisters. The Rivera family resided within & above the family operated mortuary, in the communitys' only Hispanic funeral home in Pueblo, CO.  Matthew and his brother Tim chose to follow in their parents footsteps of service to families in their time of need, over  a 30 year span in Pueblo. Matthew graduated from The Dallas Institute of Funeral Service as president of his class, with perfect attendance. He successfully passed his examinations administered by the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards and served as President of The New Mexico Funeral Service Association during  its 100th year anniversary, receiving a Special Recognition Award from The Executive Board of the National Funeral Directors Association. A fully licensed funeral director and embalmer, he has completed hospice training, is a former Life, Accident & Health insurance agent and licensed pre-need counselor, and is a licensed life agent in N.M., running the company Advance Planning Department. He served as vice president for Taos County Crimestoppers and was a candidate for Taos County Magistrate Judge. Matthew is a 3rd degree member of the Knights of Columbus, a member of La Union Protectiva in Santa Fe, a past board member of The Espanola Valley Chamber of Commerce, former president of The Espanola Rotary Club, and a member of The Santa Fe Fiesta Council. A notary public, Matthew has been in funeral home management for over 30 years. Matthew has three wonderful children; Matthew Rivera, Jr. Manuel Amos Rivera and Madelynn Adina Rivera

Chris Vega

Funeral Specialist

chris@riverafh.com

Chris is from Espanola, NM and has been working with our company since 2006, attending to all three funeral home locations (Santa Fe, Espanola, and Taos). He started out as a rosary attendant, became a part of the night transport team, and worked his way up to a funeral specialist, performing preparation and embalming and assisting families with funeral arrangements. Chris comforts families during difficult times and provides special care to those in need. Chris is caring, dependable and dedicated to his work. In the summer months, Chris has the added responsibility of making certain our cemetery in Santa Fe is manicured well.

Stacey L. Trujillo

Office Manager/Receptionist

stacey@riverafh.com

Stacey was born and raised in Taos, NM. She graduated from Taos High School and attended New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. Stacey has been with the Rivera Family since 2010 and finds her job to be very rewarding. She gives comfort to families who have lost their loved ones while assisting them throughout their time of need. Her duties include, but are not limited to: attending to walk in families, answering phones, processing payments, creating memorial material and providing administrative support to the funeral directors and staff. She is also a notary public.

Mary Helen Perea

Licensed Funeral Pre-Planning Consultant

Licensed Funeral Service Intern

wecare@valornet.com

Mary Helen Perea is a resident of Tesuque, NM and has over 26 years working with New Mexico families in predominately the area of advance funeral planning. As a licensed consultant her program eases undue financial and emotional concerns often associated with funeral arrangements. She helps individuals with information and suggestions that are crucial to their loved ones in the event of an emergency. Many people including your friends and neighbors have already benefited from Mary Helens counseling in advance funeral planning. She has been a leader in her field of experience and many of her clients think of her as part of their family. She also assists during evening services and funeral related ceremonies and has become a fixture at the family business. Mary Helen is also a notary public. She is married to Sef Perea and has a daughter, Celeste Garcia and granddaughter Rhiannon Doughman whom she is very proud of.

Janette Beesley

Licensed Funeral Pre-Planning Consultant

Janette was raised in Cebolla, NM.,  but has resided in the Espanola Valley for most of her life. Janette attended the Espanola schools and retired from Municipal Government with 25 years of employment with both the City of Espanola and the City of Santa Fe. Janette and her husband Ken Beesley own & operate Accu Copy on La Joya street, a high volume reproduction and copy business. They have four daughters and nine grandchildren. 

Roberto Mondragon

Roberto A. Mondragon is originally from La Loma, NM., near Anton Chico, in Guadalupe County. He now lives in the Pojoaque area. He has been active in New Mexico politics & as an activist, maintaining a genuine concern for the well being, rights & way of life of all New Mexicans. He was the Green Party candidate for Governor of New Mexico in 1994, and lieutenant governor of New Mexico from 1971–1974 and from 1979–1982, and served as a state representative in The  New Mexico State Legislature from 1967-1970. Recently he served for 5 years as special water projects coordinator for the New Mexico state engineer's office, and the Interstate Stream Commission. Roberto is a partner in "Aspectos Culturales", and SEMOS unlimited, Inc. a non-profit, Santa Fe based firm dedicated to maintaining Hispanic Heritage, and the sharing of many aspects of Hispanic culture particularly through Spanish language & Culture (the two co-founders are Roberto Mondragon and Georgia Roybal). He is an author, a musician, and public speaker. Roberto is a Charter Member of The New Mexico Land Grant Forum, and has served as Director of The State Agency on Aging, and The State Housing Authority. He has been a longtime friend of the Rivera family,and the Rael  family from the Anton Chico area, where Mrs. Adina Rivera, one of the company founders, was born & raised. The Rivera Family wholeheartedly welcomes Mr. Mondragon to our group of dedicated professionals in service to the families we represent. As an ambassador for our family company, and public relations representative, Mr. Mondragon delivers the morning obituary announcements on Espanola's KDCE AM950 at 8:00 a.m., and Santa Fe's KSWV AM810 at 9:25 a.m. He also will be seen at funeral home related services in Northern New Mexico, assisting families at services, with the compassion & understanding that comes with his knowledge of New Mexico folklore,culture & history. 

Elena & Matthew Gurule

Rosary Attendants

Elena is from Dixon, NM. and is very active in the family ministry in their church, The Apostolic Praise Temple Church. She works part-time at the family mortuary mostly as an attendant at both evening services and also at funeral services held during the day. Elena is friendly and courteous and has a great smile. She is very helpful to those experiencing the death of a family member. Her husband Matthew is also a rosary attendant with the funeral home. He assists with families who have lost their loved one's and is very helpful to the Espanola staff.

David Salazar

Funeral attendant-public relations

Chaplain Donald E. Mathiasen

Chaplain Donald started volunteering with the Rivera Family Funeral Home in February 2009. He comes to us with a wealth of knowledge and experience in Bereavement Ministry, Grief Following Trauma Ministry, Disaster Relief Ministry and Critical Incident Stress Management. He is a graduate of Saint James College where he received his Chaplaincy Diploma and is a member of the National Certified Chaplains Association. He continued his education through Tripp Bible Institute where he received a Diploma in Advanced Biblical Studies along with a Bachelors Degree in Theology. He is also an Ordained Non-Denominational Minister.

Chaplain Donald further serves our community as a volunteer Chaplain with Ambercare Hospice and Rio Arriba County Emergency Management.