Emma 'Jean' Rivers

It is with grateful hearts that we celebrate the life of Emma Jean Rivers Oct 13, 1926 – Nov 23, 2022, of Raymond, Alberta.  

Jean was born Oct 13, 1926, in St. Thomas, Ontario to Harold and Jemima Leverton, with an older brother Jack, and a younger sister Maxine.  She met and married the boy next door Tom Rivers in 1955. They were blessed with two daughters Leeora and Nancy. They moved to Alberta in 1963 and spent time in Rimbey, Red Deer, Vauxhall, and Acme. They moved to Saskatchewan and lived in Davidson and Lanigan. In 1974 they packed up and boarded the train to Abbotsford, BC.  In 2000 they made the final move to Raymond, Alberta where they were closer to their girls and grandchildren. 

Jean had many amazing talents. She sewed, gardened, preserved, baked, and cooked - winning many prizes at local fairs.  She supported Tom in his farming endeavours.  When they moved to Abbotsford, she developed her career with Lucerne Foods, learning how to use computers in business applications. She retired after 17 years. 

She was very active in whichever church she belonged: Baptist, United Church of Canada, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  She showed her love for children and youth by serving as a Youth Choir Director, Girl Guide Leader (10 years service), Explorer Leader, Primary Teacher, Grandmother and Great Grandmother.  She showed her love of the Saviour by her service as a member of the UCW and Relief Society, Quilting for the High Andes Society, and as a faithful Ministering Sister.

Jean was predeceased by her parents (1969 & 1998), her husband Tom (2006) and brother Jack (1979).  She is survived by her daughters Lee (Leeora) and John Patterson (Calgary), Nancy Rivers (Raymond), her grandchildren and great grandchildren:  Susan, her husband Andrus Cahoon and children Cassy, Milo, Ailey, Kiera, Vanessa, Selene, Aiden and Ashara (Raymond); Annie Rivers and her children Ronnie, Thomas and Harry (Fort McMurray); Kathy Rivers and her daughter Montana (Red Deer); Matthew Rivers and Pam Ward (Edmonton); Her sister Maxine and Dick Reed (Victoria, BC); sisters-in-law Violet McLorn and Gladys Goodhue (St. Thomas) and numerous nieces and nephews.  She leaves behind many good friends from all areas of Canada.

We want to thank the staff at the Raymond Hospital for the excellent care she received, and we are thankful to the staff and residents of Ridge View Lodge and Prairie Ridge Centre for the friendships and care she has received there.

Friends may meet with the family on Friday, November 25, 2022 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. as well as on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, from 10:00 to 10:45 prior to the service at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Knight Street Chapel, Raymond (260 E, 200 N). The Funeral Service will be at the church beginning at 11:00 a.m. Interment to follow in the Temple Hill Cemetery, Raymond.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Southern Community Food Security at scfoodsecurity.com with e-transfers to info@scfoodsecurity.com

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