Myrna M. Rivera

Myrna M Rivera, MD was born in Santurce, PR on Aug 21st, 1935 and passed away on Feb 2nd, 2025 at the age of 89. She was the first of two children of Felix Rodriguez Luyando and Margarita Duran Manzano. She is survived by her younger sister Yolanda Medina of Port St. Lucie, FL. She was predeceased by her husband Rafael A. Rivera, MD.

Myrna’s childhood nuclear family was small but both of her parents had many siblings so she grew up in the company and love of many cousins. She was especially close to her paternal grandmother, who Myrna described as “a saintly person with a sweet disposition, always ready to give a helping hand, never grouchy, never upset by anything or anyone”. Myrna described her father as “quiet and shy but very intelligent, neat and good with numbers and her mother as “friendly and talkative...entrepreneurial ...daring and tenacious”.

Myrna was indeed shaped and influenced by these important people and in turn, she exemplified these beautiful qualities to her family, friends and acquaintances.

Myrna attended the University of Puerto Rico for undergraduate studies and then medical school graduating in 1960 with only a handful of other women. It was there she met and fell in love with classmate Rafael A. Rivera. They were married the day after graduation. A year later, they had a son, David and 2 years later a daughter, Vivian. The young family settled in the Washington D.C. suburbs of Maryland as Rafael had become an Army physician and was training at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Myrna delayed further training while the children were young but eventually trained as a pathologist and practiced at hospitals in the D.C. area.

The Maryland years were filled with the routines of work and children’s activities. A close circle of supportive friends blessed them with a social network filled with laughter and friendship. David and Vivian grew up in a home of profound love and endless encouragement.

With an empty nest, Myrna and Rafael retired from clinical medicine in the late 1980s and moved to Florida which warmed her tropical blood and her always frozen hands and feet. She enjoyed traveling, reading and visiting or being visited by her three grandchildren, Daniel, Jacqueline and Thomas. They were a focus of her delight and warmth. There were many merry Christmases, proud graduations and eventually happy weddings where her light and joy imbued each celebration. By the time of her death, she had gotten to know and love six great-grandchildren.

She was a woman of great accomplishment, great faith and will leave a legacy of kindness, humility and most importantly, love.

There will be a Mass of Christian Burial on Mar 8, 2025 at 11:00 am at All Saints Catholic Church in Sunrise, FL.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Myrna’s memory. See below.

Covenant Living Benevolent Fund

Select Ways to Give, Give Today, Select Covenant Living of Florida's Benevolent Care Fund, and select Tribute Gift in Memory of Myrna Rivera.

Donations are tax-deductible.

IF by check, please make check payable to Covenant Living of Florida's Benevolent Care Fund and note In Memory of Myrna Rivera.

Covenant Living of Florida

9215 West Broward Blvd., Suite 100

Plantation, FL 33324