Hortensia "Tencha" Rivera was sent home to rest in the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ in the early morning of January 25, 2021 at the age of 56.

Tencha was the daughter born to Nicolas Godina Rivera & Virginia Valdez Rivera on January 11, 1965 in Mexicali, Baja California Mexico.

During her infancy, Tencha's family came to Blythe, CA where she would spend the rest of her life. Tencha completed all her primary and secondary education in the local schools of Blythe. As a child, Tencha was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes which would lead her to have a kidney transplant donated by her eldest sibling, Julio Rivera, in 1990. In the late 1990's, Tencha began to attend Palo Verde College where she graduated in 1998. In the year 2000, Tencha would receive a second kidney transplant and still succeed in completing her Bachelors degree at Park University in 2001, and her Masters degree in educational counseling at University of Phoenix in 2003.

Like most, Tencha faced several hardships such as the death of her parents, divorce, and several health complications. In spite of everything, Tencha remained positive and inspired everyone to further their education. Tencha moved on to serve Palo Verde College in several different capacities. Tencha took great pride in her work and became not only a mentor or leader, but also a friend to everyone who crossed her path.
Tencha was the dedicated mother and grandmother of her children Erica, Martin Jr., and Adriana, and grandchildren Gabriel, Julian, and Natalie.

After her retirement in 2020, Tencha spent most of her days cooking and sharing her meals with her friends and family on Facebook. Tencha devoted herself to the Lord Jesus Christ and was baptized in 2018. Despite COVID, Tencha opened her home for bible studies which allowed her to mature spiritually as a christian. The relationship she had with Christ was and will always be what reassures her loved ones that we will see her again.

2 Corinthians 5:8 NIV- "We are confident, I say and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord."

She is survived by her children, Erica De Leon, Martin De Leon Jr., and Adriana De Leon, as well as her grandchildren, Gabriel De Leon, Julian "Juju" Martinez, and Natalie Avendano, and brothers Julio Rivera, and Nicolas Rivera Jr.

Tencha is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Juan Rivera, and granddaughter Alexia Marie Avendano. Tencha's resilience and dedication to live her life full of love and compassion is what she will be remembered by.

Services will be held for Tencha on Thursday, Feb. 4th beginning at 5:00 p.m. at Frye Chapel.