Mrs. Patricia Rivera was killed April 16, 2014. 49-years-old and a teacher at Cesar Chavez High School, Rivera was on her way home from school when she was involved in a suspected drunk driving related accident. Rivera’s SUV was rear-ended by a pick-up full of college students driving to a college fraternity party. The pick-up was traveling south bound on Highway-99 at an accelerated speed, weaving in and out of evening rush hour traffic and ran into the back of Rivera’s SUV, causing her vehicle to jump the center divide, sending her vehicle into oncoming traffic. Rivera’s vehicle was hit on the driver‘s side by a semi truck.

Rivera was on her phone with her son Ruben at the time of the accident. Being concerned about what he heard over the phone, Ruben and his brother Raymond decided to drive the route their mother normally drove on her way home from school. The two boys came across the accident and recognized their mother’s vehicle. Rivera was cut from her vehicle and transported via medical helicopter to UC Davis Medical Center with faint vital signs and was rushed into emergency surgery. She had suffered severe trauma to her brain and lost a lot of blood due to her injuries and was pronounced dead in the operating room.

Rivera was the club advisor of M.E.Ch.A, Cool Titans, and Clean and Sober Teens. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, cooking, rooting for the San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco Giants, and doing fun activities with her students.

Rivera had plans of going to Hawaii this summer with her husband to celebrate her 50th birthday and 30th wedding anniversary.

Rivera is survived by her husband of 29 years, Jeff Rivera, her two sons Raymond and Ruben Rivera, daughter-in-law Maritza and grandchildren Jordyn and Valentino.

A memorial service for students and staff will be held in the gym at Cesar Chavez High School on Monday, April 21, 2014, at 9:30 a.m. Rivera’s family has asked that people show their love for Rivera by wearing either 49ers, Giants or CCHS apparel.

Rivera will be remembered for always being kind, giving, sweet, loving, and motherly. She will be loved and missed by everyone who knew her.