Carmen G. Rivera, 79, of West Hartford, CT, beloved wife of the late Anibal Rivera passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 23, 2023, at Hartford Hospital, surrounded by her loving family & friends. Carmen was born on November 27, 1943, in Comerio, Puerto Rico, Carmen was the daughter of the late Eduardo Pagan and the late Antolina (Berrios) Pagan both of Comerio, Puerto, Rico. Carmen lived her lifetime by giving more than she received and lived a grand humble life. She loved to sing, loved all people, all animals especially her late pets Tiny and Lulu, and her plants. All living things, really. She was an ardent gardener and seamstress. She worked for over 30 years in the laundry department at Hartford Hospital. She was proud of her 50+ years as a member of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, where she sang for many of those years in the church choir. Carmen had a beautiful garden and she loved cooking meals for her family, and will be especially remembered for often hosting family, friends, and strangers into her home for nice warm cups of coffee, crackers, and cheese. A loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Carmen will be forever missed by her three sons, Jesus Morales, Jr. and daughter-in-law Betsy Morales of Windsor, CT., Francisco J. Morales of Hartford, CT and Rafael L. Morales and her daughter-in-law Maria Chaparro-Morales of Mansfield, CT., her three daughters Carmen S. Velasquez and her son-in-law Vidal "Pete" Velasquez of Hartford, CT., Marisol Laboy and son-in-law David Laboy, Sr. of West Hartford, CT and Caroline Morales of Wethersfield, CT., three brothers, eight sisters, fifteen grandchildren, Alberto, Alfredo, & Eliana Echevarria, David Laboy, Jr., Kristina Laboy-Lapointe, Vanessa Laboy, Amanda Morales, Stephanie Morales-Jones, Melanie Morales, Arielle Hernandez, Gabriella Hernandez, Kayla Donsbough, Joey Matais, Ernie Matais, Lizandra Gonzalez, and fourteen great grandchildren, Jordyn, Audrey, Link, Ace, Rayne, Cal, Lorelai, Alaina, Mason, Matthew, Arya, Kasmir, Gabriel, & Javien, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family members, both here, New Jersey, Florida, and in Puerto Rico. In addition to her husband, Anibal, Carmen was also predeceased by her two sisters Maria V. Pagan and Mercedes Pagan.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the doctors, nurses, and staff at Hartford Hospital's Conklin Building for their tender and compassionate care.

Funeral services for Carmen will be held Friday, April 28, 2023, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 79 New Park Ave., Hartford, CT. Burial will be in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield, CT. Relatives, and friends may call at the Dillon-Baxter Funeral Home, 1276 Berlin Tpke., Wethersfield, CT Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. To share a memory of Carmen, please visit www.dillonbaxterfuneralhome.com