Adelisa N. Rivas

Adelisa Rivas, age 94, passed away peacefully surrounded by family in prayer on May 2, 2025. Adelisa was born on May 1, 1931, in Laredo, Texas. Her father operated a small local newspaper and her mother was loving and cared for the home. As the only daughter with four brothers she had a special place in the family. To set her apart from her four brothers, Adelisa was called "La Bebe," a nickname she carried all her life.

When Adelisa was 15 the family moved to San Antonio. There Adelisa attended Lanier High School where she met her future husband Roman V. Rivas. The two met at a school picnic where Roman announced Adelisa was his date before even asking her. She immediately agreed, and thus began their romance. Roman and Adelisa became a couple quickly and remained together during Roman’s year-long Air Force assignment in Korea at the end of the war. In January of 1956, Adelisa’s father Delis Negrón died suddenly, so Adelisa’s oldest brother Delis Jr. walked her down the aisle when she married her sweetheart Roman on December 30, 1956. First son Armando was born in September, the following year.

During their early days, Roman was working on a degree so he could join the AirForce as an officer. Together they decided he had to attend school full time. He did, and indeed they found a way with Roman working a part time night job, Adelisa caring for three children and taking on odd sewing jobs and providing all the clothes for the family. In due time Roman completed his degree and rejoined the Air Force and their adventures as an Air Force family began. Adelisa was the root of love and care to the family, providing for all of her family’s needs while Roman had a successful career in the Air Force.

They had five children over their 62-year marriage and spent much of that time traveling from assignment to assignment. The family lived in Mississippi, Virginia, Spain, California, The Philippines, and Texas, ultimately retiring in Texas. Adelisa enjoyed sewing, crochet, embroidery, and loved to give a homemade blanket to new parents.

She also learned to love sports, deciding to join her boys and husband cheering on the Cowboys, Rangers, and Spurs rather than be a sports widow. She adored her grandchildren and she and Roman would travel in retirement to visit them all. She was a faithful Catholic and raised her children in the Faith.

She is preceded in death by her husband Roman, and her grandson Alex.

She is survived by her five children Armando (Maria), Ernesto, Leticia (Scott), Roberto, and Rolando (Elizabeth), and her 10 grandchildren Christopher, TJ, David, Jacob, Alexis, Julianna, Sister Juana Maria, Noah, Olivia, and Joseph. She is also survived by four sibling and many nephews and nieces who loved her very much.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, May 10th at 8:30 a.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 708 St. Michael’s Lane, Gastonia, NC. 28052. The Rosary and reception of the body will be held on Monday, May 19th at 9:30 a.m. at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 7893 Grissom Rd, San Antonio, TX 78251. The Funeral Mass will begin at 10 a.m. The Burial will be held at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery Monday, May 19 at 1:15pm.