Rosa Mary Rivera

Rosa Mary Rivera

1955, a year to remember...

1955 (MCMLV in Roman Numerals) was the year where the world population was 2,773,019,936. Americans were buying houses in the suburbs, and were also busy purchasing new cars, televisions, and refrigerators. Unemployment averaged 4.2%, inflation was -0.37%, and the average household income was $4,130.00. The average cost of a new home was $10,950.00, the average cost of a new car was $1,900.00, and a gallon of gas averaged 23 cents. Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat. Fast food and TV dinners were all the rage, and Coca-Cola was now being sold in cans. Rocking around the clock with Elvis, playing the card game canasta, reading Lolita, and watching the $64,000 Question and Search for Tomorrow had also become immensely popular. The Mickey Mouse Club premiered on TV along with the opening of Disneyland in Anaheim, California and was exciting for a lot of people.

On November 9th, 1955, a Wednesday that not only brought almost a foot of snow, but gifted Randall & Mona McCartney a new baby girl into the West Virginia mountains. Rosa Mary was the name given to this new baby boomer to begin her adventures within this world. Growing up with her brothers Michael (Laurie) McCartney and Wayne McCartney, Rosa found herself going from West Virgina to Florida as a small girl, finally settling into Grafton Ohio, in her late teens. Then meeting a man named John Burch, which from here they started a family with the birth of Tonya Lou Burch, Veronica (David) Grizzell, Johnny (Shannon) Burch IV, Christina (Joshua) Grizzell.

In February 1977, her daughter Tonya had received a calling to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on the day of her birth.

In September 1991, her grandfather Leslie received a calling to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In September 2011, her grandmother Rosa had received a calling to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In 1997, Rosa's family was extended by the birth of her first grandchild Roger Jones. From there Rosa received the blessings of more grandchildren, Tristen Grizzell, Skyler Grizzell, Riley Koker, Nathan Burch, Gaven Grizzell, Caiden Burch, Kinadee Grizzell, great grandchildren Lydia Jones, Blake Grizzell, Harlyn Jones, and Henry Patchin. Along with her nieces and nephews, Cody McCartney, Logan McCartney, Mikayla McCartney.

Throughout Rosa’s life she has always loved her family. Through tough and amazing times, Rosa raised her three children as a single mother focusing on making sure her family was taken care of. While not all the times were great, Rosa did everything she could to take care of her family as well as those around her. Rosa loved being around her family and friends as much as she could be. She was always willing to go without so that others could have. Once grandchildren started arriving, Rosa’s full focus was on all of her grandchildren enjoying every single second she had received from each. Rosa showered them all with love, knowledge, and friendship. No matter who you were, Rosa always accepted people in with open arms but mess with her family, she would attack you like a mama bear with no mercy. She enjoyed playing card games and bingo as well as watching a good NASCAR race. Whatever was being done or who she was with, you could always expect good conversation followed by a lot of laughter while being showered by love.

On November 23rd, 2024, Rosa Mary Rivera, received a call from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She has gone home to be with her daughter Tonya Burch and grandparents Leslie and Rosa McCourt. While those of us left behind will be saddened with her departure from earth, we can all rejoice with the fact that one day we will see her yet again in the Kingdom of Heaven.

We lost Rosa right before Thanksgiving. Losing a loved one during a holiday is always the worse, more so when we are in the giving mood, and someone is taken away. But we must remind ourselves that while they were taken away, we are given the gift of having them in our lives for as long as we had them. We are thankful for the life given, the laughs we had, the tears we shed, the love we hold, the knowledge we gained. We are thankful you are no longer in pain in your earthly form. We are all thankful for you sharing your time on this planet with us. Although we know you can no longer hear this from us, we all know that where you are, you can feel our love for you and how thankful of you we are.

Thank you for everything you have done for Veronica, Johnny, and Tina in helping us grow into the women and men we are today. Without you, we would not be. We love you mom, we will miss you mom, we will see you again one day, tell Tonya, Grandma, and Grandpa we love and miss them...

Visitation will be held on Saturday November 30, 2024 in the Duke Funeral Home 1021 Main St. Grafton from 10 AM until services at 12 Noon.

West Virginia friends may join the family for visitation on Wednesday, December 4, 2024 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Dodd & Reed Funeral Home, Webster Springs. Celebration of Life Services will be held at 8:00 PM. 

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.doddreedfh.com.

Dodd & Reed Funeral Home is honored to be serving Rose Mary’s family.