Laura Rivera

Laura Marie Rivera, 32, died Sept. 11, 2007, of cancer at her Wasilla home surrounded by family.

There will be an open house at the family home from 3-6 p.m. Sept. 14.

Rivera was born Oct. 10, 1974, in Whittier, Calif., and came to Anchorage in 1979, where she attended high school and college. She remained in Anchorage until 2000, when she relocated to Wasilla.

Rivera was a full-time mom and Crossroads Community Church member who volunteered time with the schools her children attended. She enjoyed spending time with family, friends, fishing, gardening and reading.

Rivera was a beautiful, loving wife and mother of three. At her time of passing, her greatest passion was being a mother. She was very active, enjoying relationships, friends, the outdoors and gardening. She was always sensitive to the needs of others and gave generously. She courageously fought the battle against cancer over the last three years and remained steadfast and full of hope until the end.

Rivera is survived by her husband, Carlos, and daughters Kristian, Juliana and Maya, all of Wasilla; parents David and Barbara Butler of Anchorage; sister Lisa (Mark) Ochenrider; nephew Gabriel Ochenrider of Kirkland, Wash.; brother Eric Butler of Anchorage; mother-in-law Paula Uilham of Wasilla; brother-in-law Andre Rivera of Anchorage; sister-in-law Mandy Rivera of Anchorage; grandparents Don and Niva Butler of Big Bear Lake, Calif., Lillian and Michael Jacobs of Puyallup, Wash., and Victor and Phyllis Marine of Vancouver, Wash.

Valley Funeral Home and Crematory of Wasilla and Palmer is assisting the family.