Avelino Rivera

Avelino Rivera, age 88, who was known as Lico, passed away peacefully on October 12, 2024, after a lengthy battle with leukemia.  He was born on November 7, 1935, in Cayey, Puerto Rico, and recently lived in Valley Stream, NY. His parents were Ysaias Rivera and Flora Vazquez. He moved to New York as a kid and lived with his older sister, Blanca.   When he turned 18 years old, he enlisted in the Marines.  While in the Marines, he was deployed to serve in the Korean War.  He was honorably discharged after his four-year stint as a Sergeant. In 1957, he met and married Virginia Rivera.  From this union, he had two sons, Albert and Frank.   In July 1981, he married Myriam Lugo with whom he had twins, Myriam Yvette and Joel.  

After his military service, he was employed by the United States Postal Service.  He left the postal service in 1986.  After a few years, he returned to work as a cylinder delivery driver for Awisco Corporation. He was with Awisco until 1993.  His next full-time job was probably the one he enjoyed the most, being a caregiver to his grandchildren. 

Lico was a faithful man of God.  In 1986 was a born-again Christian. He practiced his faith at the Iglesia Cristiana Misionera (Christian Missionary Church) in lower Manhattan, from 1986 until 2008.  In 2008, he practiced his faith at the Bethlehem Assembly of God, in Valley Stream until his passing. He graduated from the Theological Institute – Assembly of Christian Churches in 1994.

Lico was a joy to be around. He lived in a positive mindset and was always singing – all sorts of songs, from rock and roll, tangos, disco, salsa, blues, pop, soul, ballads, and gospel.  His favorite songs were Frank Sinatra’s “I Did It My Way” because he felt that song to his soul, Jenn Johnson’s “Goodness of God”, and everyone’s “Amazing Grace”.

Lico is survived by his wife, Myriam, his sister, Blanca, his sons, Albert and Joel and daughters, Annabelle (Myriam) Myriam Yvette, grandchildren, Carmen (Frank), Yolanda (Frank), Albert Daniel (Albert), William (Frank), Amanda (Annabelle), Jonathan (Annabelle), Marc Alexander (Albert), Danielle Marie (Albert), David (Annabelle), Isaiah (Myriam), and Victor (Joel), his daughters-in-law, Rebecca (Frank), Maribel (Albert), and Caroline (Joel), his son-in-law David (Annabelle), his great-grandchildren Alexander, Roger, Angelina, and Gabriel (Albert Daniel) and Kaylee (Amanda), his god-daughter Vanessa and many nieces, nephews, and friends. Lico was preceded in death by his son Frank, earlier this year. Family, friends, and others are invited to the Edward F. Lieber Funeral Homes, Inc., at 266 North Central Avenue, Valley Stream, NY from 2:00-4:00 pm and 6:00-8:00 pm on October 17, 2024, to reminisce and honor the life of Lico.  The procession is scheduled for Friday, October 18, 2024, at 10:00 am and the interment will be at Calverton National Cemetery.