Julio Rivera

Julio Rivera, age 83, of Paterson passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 while receiving the loving care of his family.

Julio was born and raised in Utuado, Puerto Rico and was one of thirteen children to Jesus and Claudia Rivera.  At the age of about sixteen, some of Julio’s family requested that he travel stateside to Chicago where some of his extended family was residing.  Julio’s immediate family encouraged him to join them and he traveled alone to the United States mainland.  After arriving in Chicago and living there for some time, Julio moved to Jersey City, NJ where he went to school to learn the trade of Auto Body.  This was a skill that Julio truly loved and spent years mastering.  Julio worked as a cabinet maker but eventually returned to the trade of Auto body which was his true calling.  Over the years, Julio honed his skills in auto body to the point of artistry.  Julio was self-employed for many years as an Auto Body Specialist and continued to work in the auto body field until some health issues forced him to retire.  Because of Julio’s work in the Auto Body field, it came as no surprise that he was someone that was good with his hands.  Julio could fix just about anything, anywhere.

In the early 1970’s, Julio met an attractive young woman named Petra Vizcarrondo through some mutual friends.  Julio and Petra didn’t exactly hit it off great when they first met, but Petra’s mom saw what kind of young man Julio was.  Petra’s mom convinced her that this was, “the man for her.”  As fate would have it, Julio and Petra fell in love and on November 2, 1972 they became husband and wife.  Petra, at the time they were married, already had three children of her own from a previous marriage.  Julio totally and completely embraced Petra’s children as his own and to this day they still refer to him as “Dad.”  After getting married, Julio and his family settled in Jersey City, NJ.  They remained there for a couple of years then moved to Puerto Rico.  While in Puerto Rico, Julio and Petra welcomed the births of their own two children.  Julio, again being very good with his hands, built the family home in San Isidro, Canovanas, Puerto Rico.  Throughout the years, Julio and his family moved several times to and from Puerto Rico and the United States mainland.  Eventually, Julio and his family moved to Paterson, NJ where they have remained ever since.

Julio was an avid New York Yankees fan for many years.  He treasured taking long walks and listening to Latin music artists such as Julio Jaramillo,  Julio Iglesias, and Jose Jose to name a few.  Julio was a quiet man, private and very humble.  He was loving, compassionate and often shy but was also willing to help anyone in need.  Apart from all of Julio’s interests, talents, and hobbies, his greatest passion was for his family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Julio than providing for and spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  Julio and his wife Petra cherished forty-nine years of loving and loyal marriage.  Julio touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by his family and friends alike.

Julio is survived by his wife Petra Vizcarrondo of Paterson and five children; his son Herminio Vizcarrondo of Springfield, MA, his son Bruce Vizcarrondo and his wife Quetsy of Greenville, PA, his son Stanley Vizcarrondo and his wife Nancy of Paterson, NJ, his son Julio Rivera of Paterson, NJ, and his daughter Marjorie Rivera of Paterson, NJ.  Twelve grandchildren; Justin Rivera of Massachusetts, Andrew Rivera of Massachusetts, Jeremy Rivera of Massachusetts, Marcos Rivera of Massachusetts, Bruce David Rivera and his wife Angie of Lodi, NJ, Quetsy Marylis Rivera and her husband Mario of Greenville, PA, Valery Vizcarrondo and her husband Miguel of Wyckoff, NJ, Dayshawn Vizcarrondo of Greenville, PA, Stanley Vizcarrondo and his wife Esther of Newark, NJ, Victor Vizcarrondo of Paterson, NJ, Ileana Vizcarrondo of Paterson, NJ and Nashaun Vailes of Paterson, NJ.  Thirteen Great Grandchildren;  Nayla, Xayden, Andrew Jr., Eylana, Kiara, Bambi, Clover, Stephanie, Maya, Leilani, Ariyah, Adrian and Olivia. He is also survived by seven of his brothers and sisters; Buena, Juan Luis a.k.a. as Negro, Benjamin, Jesus Jr., Esther, Lucy and William. He was also predeceased by five of his brothers and sisters over the years; Visitacion, Herminio a.k.a Papo, Ivan, Ernesto and Carlitos.