Tributes and memories from her sister, Rosa, and brother Rodrigo
Consuelo my big sister, she was so intelligent. And she was a leader for us, she was always an example with her grades and for that everyone in my family, brothers and sisters had to be good as her at the school. I remember her voice, imitating Cecilia la nueva ola [Cecilia Pantoja, a famous "new wave" singer], and we followed her at the singing competition in different stages. She married so young and she worked so hard to be successful but it was very difficult with a child and not a very happy marriage. Finally she get out the closet and started a new life.
When I was in England to care for her and to assist in any way possible with the awful cancer, she sometimes said to me, ”sit there keep here with me, but don’t talk“. I was pleased to be with her and to see how she really loved to be alive, and she worked so very hard, and that gave me strength to be there as a sister.
I cried looking at her suffer so much when the nurses looked for the veins and they cannot find them - women like her, fighting for her life with determination, she is a hero to me. We had different thoughts about politics and other aspects of life but I respect her and I really miss our conversation . She was very kind with everyone. She was sometimes hard [difficult] but the whole Rivera family is similar. I loved her and I so happy I was there in her final moments.
Rosa Rivera
Video celebrating Cecilia, "La Incomparable" (in Spanish). Consuelo loved her singing, as well as her feminism!
And from Rodrigo
Consuelo es la mayor de mis hermanos y yo el menor, dicen que nos parecemos mucho, cuando niño mis amigos pensaban que era mi mamá porque siempre andaba con ella, como mi sobrino mayor tiene casi mi edad nos criaron prácticamente como hermanos, ella siempre me enseño a luchar y a defender en o que creo aunque no siempre fue lo que ella pensaba, a pesar de esa diferencia nos unían cosas y sentimientos que son mucho más grande que una diferencia política.... el amor por la naturaleza, los animales, sobretodo los perritos, ella y yo rescatabamos cachorritos abandonados y les buscábamos un hogar, eso siempre y hasta el día de hoy lo practico y me llena el corazón, nos gustaba ver el cielo, las estrellas y hablar de vida extraterrestre en el campo de nuestros padres en Cañete donde el cielo se llena de estrellas, nos gustaban las películas de ciencia ficción y de super héroes, lo que más admiro de ella es el tremendo corazón que tiene y que de seguro donde este lo pondra a a disposición de alguna labor social, siempre fue una excelente hermana, nunca dudo en ayudarme cuando lo necesite y cuando mi madre partió ella me retaba enseñándome siempre aunque yo ya era un hombre adulto, gracias Hermanita por ser una Hermosa persona, se que nos volveremos a ver y podremos ver las estrellas desde otra perspectiva, que seas feliz donde estés, te amo 🥰❤
Consuelo is the oldest of my siblings and I am the youngest, they say we are very much alike, when I was a child my friends thought she was my mom because I was always with her, as my oldest nephew is almost my age we were raised almost like brothers, she always taught me to fight and defend what I believe in although it was not always what she thought, despite that difference we were united by things and feelings that are much bigger than a political difference.... love for nature, animals, especially dogs, she and I rescued abandoned puppies and looked for a home for them, that always and to this day I practice it and it fills my heart, we liked to see the sky, the stars and talk about extraterrestrial life in the field of our parents in Cañete where the sky is full of stars, we liked science fiction movies and super heroes, What I admire most about her is the tremendous heart she has and that for sure where she is she will put it at the disposal of some social work, she was always an excellent sister, she never hesitated to help me when I needed it and when my mother left she always challenged me teaching me even though I was already an adult man, thank you Sis for being a beautiful person, I know we will see each other again and we can see the stars from another perspective, may you be happy wherever you are, I love you 🥰❤