Maria Alicia Rivas, née Alderete, 92, died Saturday, February 11, 2017, on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes in her home and in the presence of her beloved family. She was preceded in death by her parents Francisco Alderete and Dolores Ramos de Alderete, sister Hortencia Wells of Munnsville, NY, brothers Francisco Alderete Jr., Carlos Alderete of Moraga, CA, and sister Flora Alarcon. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Alex P. Rivas, daughter Alejandrina Morton, son Alberto Rivas, grandchildren Cristina and Philip Morton, great grandson Steven Morton, niece Melissa Luther, née Alarcon (Paul) of Houston, grandniece Madeleine Luther, and numerous other nephews, nieces and cousins. A lifelong Catholic, Alicia was born on October 28, 1924 on South Kansas Street, Second Ward, south El Paso, TX, in a house she described as being very close to the river, and was baptized at San Ignacio church. She attended Bailey School and graduated from El Paso High School class of 1942. Upon graduating she worked at Newberry's downtown El Paso for many years as a floor walker and afterwards taught herself bookkeeping at Southwest Acoustical Company, working there and with various companies as a bookkeeper during her career. In her youth she would spend her summers at her family's ranch in Chihuahua, Mexico riding horses and learning its traditions and way of life. In 1956 she married her husband Alex, a WWII veteran of the celebrated Company E of the Texas 36th Division. As avid dancers they enjoyed frequent dances and social events organized around the Company E Club of El Paso, the Elks Lodge, and their circle of friends and family. In July of 1977 they were graced to be finally married in the Catholic church with Father John F. Deeves, S.J. officiating. Alicia's true joy in life however was gathering with her family on Sundays, birthdays, holidays, life events, picnics in Cloudcroft, but mainly hosting her traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas day dinners for everyone. She made her home an extended family hub and was devoted to her family, caring for her father for all of his life, and being present to care for and help raise several of her nieces and nephews, throughout her life. She enjoyed preparing and preserving traditional family recipes, stories, legends which she would share and hand down in her kitchen. She was proud of her family background, history, and Mexican-American culture, with a great appreciation for music and beautiful art. Being mindful of her humble beginnings, she had a marked disdain for injustice and coarseness and a high regard for decency and decorum. She treated everyone with equal deference and respect regardless of their standing or walk in life. Alicia exemplified the dignity and dutiful propriety of a bygone era and will forever be loved and sorrowfully missed. A rosary will be held at the Loretto High School chapel, 1300 Hardaway, Monday 2/20, 7:00 p.m., visitation 6:00 p.m. Funeral mass Tuesday, 2/21, 1:00 p.m., St. Raphael church, 2301 Zanzibar, interment following, Ft. Bliss National Cemetery. Pallbearers: Alberto Rivas, Philip Morton, Frank Alderete III, Dr. Edward Alderete, James Wells, Paul Luther, Edward Flores, and Albert Concha.