Obituary: Janet Rivera
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July 13, 1953 – September 6, 2025
Janet Cathcart Prine Rivera, age 72, of Gypsum, Colorado, died on September 6, 2025, after courageously facing cancer.
Janet was born July 13, 1953, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the second eldest of six children. She is survived by her husband Benito Rivera; her children Autumn Rivera, Daniel Rivera (Shay), and Jacob Rivera (Katie); her grandchildren Martín, Brooks, Valerie, Harper, Elizabeth, Joel, and Roshaun; and her sisters Linda Prine, Karen Prine, Barbara Prine (Paul), and Alison Prine (Kelley). She is further survived by the large and loving Rivera and Prine families and her many cherished friends. Janet was preceded in death by her mother Irma Putnam Cathcart Prine, father Charles Wilson Prine Jr., stepmother Elizabeth Erskine Prine, stepmother Elizabeth Waite Prine, and brother Roger Prine.
Janet grew up in the South Hills of Pittsburgh, PA. She was active in the Girl Scouts, where she developed her lifelong love of the outdoors, deep friendships, and community service. Janet graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Parks and Recreation.
After college, she moved to Colorado, where she met Benny, her husband of 44 years, while working as a camp counselor at Anderson Camp. Together, they had three children, whom they raised on Sweetwater Road.
Janet earned a Master’s Degree in Adult Education from Regis University. Her teaching career spanned a variety of ages and a diverse population of learners, including incarcerated people and college students.
Janet was a naturalist, watercolor painter, writer, gardener, bible study leader, baker, and expert puzzler. There was nothing that brought her more joy than being with her grandchildren, celebrating birthdays, making fairy gardens, baking Christmas cookies, playing dress up, and being creative together.
Janet will be remembered and missed in countless ways. She had a strong faith, a strong mind, and a strong heart, which came through so clearly in these last months as she faced cancer.
A service will be held at the United Methodist Church of Eagle Valley on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 3pm. It will also be livestreamed at http://www.umcofeaglevalley.org
