Obituary of Miguel Angel Jimenez

Beloved Miguel Angel Rivera Jiménez, age 83, passed away December 25, 2013 surrounded by his loving family in his home in Tucson, Arizona. He was diagnosed with gallbladder cancer and passed exactly one month later. He was attended to around the clock by his best friend, constant companion, and devoted wife of almost 57 years, Aurora Jiménez, as well as his three "trophies," the prizes of his life, his daughters: Rita and Nanci, who live in Portland, Oregon, and Ana, who lives in Tucson. It is our greatest honor to have been a central part of his life and especially in his last month, which we believe was the best month of his life: he spent every moment present in the beauty of living with loved ones around him. He leaves behind "the best son-in-law ever" Daryl Wieneke, who lives in Tucson and his soon-to-be son-in-law, Federico Ramírez who resides in Portland, Oregon. Miguel's legacy continues on in three precious grandchildren: Robert Michael, Alexandar, and Gladys, who will miss his unconditional love and endless supply of jokes. Miguel was born in Aguada, Puerto Rico, to Dominga Jiménez Pérez and Hermanigildo Rivera Cardona. One of 14 siblings, he leaves behind: Justina Rivera and Monserrate Rivera, who both live in Aguada as well as countless nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great nephews who live both on the island of Puerto Rico and throughout the mainland United States. He was preceded in death by his twin sister Filomena, as well as his siblings Cruz, Antonio, Alex "Titi," Carmen, Angela, Aleja, María, Anastasia, Carmelo "Pito" and Abraham "Chany." As an active member of and elder for the Jehovah Witness faith community, Miguel also leaves behind a host of fellow brother and sister congregants. Miguel was a person who loved, respected and nurtured all living things. He was a simple man who valued humility and living in harmony—with others and in nature. As a child he grew up on a small farm in a tropical island surrounded by and living off the earth's bounty. As a young man, he taught himself guitar and played in a trio. At 17 he migrated to Detroit, Michigan where he met the love of his life and started their family together. In 1977 the family moved to Tucson. Over the last 13 years he spent countless hours building from scrap materials and enjoying his casita—a structure that closely resembles the small, wooden home in which he was raised in rural Puerto Rico. He was happiest outside in the sunshine, tending his garden oasis in the desert; napping in one of his hammocks; listening to trio music; engaging in some creative project like building and cooking in a solar oven; reading his bible; playing dominoes or simply being with his family. He loved singing and would make up songs almost daily. He was unabashedly romantic. Miguel loved people. To him there were no strangers, just people he hadn't befriended yet--and he made friends with everyone! One of the ways he put people at ease was his sense of humor. He easily made people laugh especially because he didn't take himself too seriously. His playful punning in English, Spanish and Spanglish revealed the inner-workings of a brilliant mind. He went to the gym almost daily with his wife and loved walking at Udall Park. He will be remembered with love and celebration during a memorial service on Wednesday, January 1, 2014 at Adair Funeral Home (www.adairfuneralhomes.com) at 1050 Dodge Boulevard; Tucson, Arizona 85716. Services, visitation hours and storytelling will be from 10 am-12:30 pm. If sending flowers or plants, please confirm arrival before 2 pm (MST) on December 31, 2013. You can also make a donation to the "Miguel Angel Memorial Fund" online at http://posthope.org/miguel-angel-memorial-fund or mail checks to: Nanci E. Luna Jiménez, PO Box 12371, Portland, OR 97212. This fund will be used for two purposes: 1) to create and install a memorial bench at Udall Park in Tucson, Arizona; and 2) to assist family members in attending his memorial service in Aguada, Puerto Rico in December 2014. His ashes will find their way home to rest again in the place he was born, completing the circle of his life, in the Aguada Cemetery in the same tomb as his cherished mother, Mama Minga, and two siblings, Titi and Tasia. "Love people as they are, not as they are not." Miguel Angel Jiménez