Felix Rivera

On May 8th 2020 Felix Rivera, my father, passed away in the Dominican Republic. He was on vacation to propose to the woman he had grown to be in love with over the course of 3 years, Niulca Maria Ualloa Parra. During his time of love in paradise, he suffered symptoms of a minor heart attack on April 9th, 2020. He was hospitalized and treated over the course of about 2 weeks. Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, complications (of which, lack of insurance and cost of treatment being the biggest) arose that prevented him from receiving the treatment that he would've received here in the United States. My father then went home to Niulca's house to try and gain enough strength to fly back home. In what we now know was the last week of his life, he spent his time with his fiance and her 3 kids watching movies, resting, and preparing himself to return to Connecticut to receive additional medical treatment. He was feeling better, or so he thought. He was up and moving, no longer having complications breathing. He was laughing again, even having the energy to cook what he believed to be the first of many meals. Unfortunately, this would turn out to be his last supper as God had other plans. At 5:53 pm on May 7th, my father cooked dinner for himself, his fiance, and her 3 sons. He enjoyed his time happily in love. He even voiced to Niulca that, it was one of the best days of his life and that he was happy.  Just a few hours later at about 12:50 am on May 8th, Niulca called me via video-chat screaming for help as my father laid on her bed unresponsive. The medics arrived shortly after and tried to resuscitate him. What we know about life and death is that one day we are born, and one day God will come and remind us that he needs us back in heaven.  May 8th, 2020, God came and took his son, Felix Rivera. Although the medics did all that they could to keep him with us, this was the day God needed him more than anyone else here on earth.  With pain in my heart and many questions that will forever be unanswered, I sit here today typing to all of the people that Felix, my father, has loved, to ask that we come together in honor of my father and help create a service that celebrates who he was, and who he will continue to be, forever in our memories shared. Memories of my Papi: My father was 51 years old, just over 2 weeks shy of turning 52. He was a man who worked hard all of his life to survive and maintain a humble lifestyle. He was a man who was full of energy that most of us call Love. Someone that was fun, happy, super caring, loyal, ambitious, strong, stubborn, persistent, funny, talented, handsome, tall, sweet, and compassionate. Overall he was my life.  My father was a stepfather, a grandfather, a boss to many at work (although many of his employees and coworkers respected him as a father, brother, and friend). My father was a brother, an uncle, a cousin, a husband, a lover, he was an angel. His heart was filled with nothing but love! My father loved music and family gatherings. He worked so much that he routinely missed many gatherings. So when he did attend gatherings, he always made it the most fun. He was a great cook ( THOSE PINCHOS OR MACARONI YUM), and he was a great dancer.  I can go on and on about how in love I am with my daddy, but instead I would love to start planning for his return back to the US and to his memorial. A time and place where I can truly honor his life with all of his children and all of the ones whom he loved. You see, my daddy's life wasn't in the slightest way easy, so I want to take this time to begin planning the celebration he would've wanted us to have, sending his soul to rest in peace up in paradise.  My wish is to create a space where every family and friends who loved my father can come together and celebrate his life, play music on real instruments, cook amazing food, dance, and honor the life he lived. He would want us to celebrate his life, because he lived as if every day was his last.  I ask that if you can, that you help me with accomplishing this task. I was not able to touch my dad's face or kiss him goodbye, and I am yearning to give him the absolute BEST memorial that I can.  It is all we have and it's what I feel is needed in order for his soul to rest easy in paradise. The purpose of this Go Fund Me is to cover the Funerary expenses, including the transportation of my Fathers ashes back to the United States FIRST then whatever remains will go to his memorial. All donations will be forever cherished, as you all will help make it possible to give my Father a proper memorial.   Thank you and much love, Emily Rivera "Love is an energy, and energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only change forms." - In the words of a friend that was dearly loved by my daddy!