Federico "Fred" Rivera, age 82, passed away on Friday, January 2, 2015 at the Rosewood Care Center in Rockford. He was born on October 6, 1932 in Monterrey, Mexico, the son of Luis and Consuelo Tenorio Rivera. He excelled at St. Joseph High School in Laredo, TX and received a scholarship offer to Iowa State University in 1952. Fred married Connie McCombs on October 25, 1958 at St. Peter's Church in Lovilia, IA and moved to Rochelle later that year. The fall of 1963 he received a teaching position at Monroe Center Elementary School as a 6th grade teacher. He received his Master's Degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Bilingual Education at Northern Illinois University. He taught in the Rochelle Elementary schools for 36 years. During these years he taught Spanish to 5th and 6th graders at Central Elementary School and he taught 7th and 8th graders at the Rochelle Middle School. In 1976, he received the title Bilingual Coordinator for District #231 and carried out his teaching at Lincoln Elementary School. In June 2003, after 42 years of teaching, he retired.
Fred was determined to find a way to provide educational opportunities for the migrant children. His efforts succeeded in 1967 with the Rochelle Summer Migrant Program opening and was the Director of the program until 2002. He was also chosen to be the Director of Migrant Education for the State of Illinois. Fred was active in the Rochelle Area Community Foundation, Rochelle Community Hospital, Hope of Ogle County, and the St. Patrick's Church Finance Council.
He is preceded in death by his parents.

Fred is survived by his wife, Connie Rivera of Rochelle; 3 daughters: Christine (Rolando) Salazar of Rochelle, Catherine (Patrick) Flom of Loves Park, and Lisa (Michael) Petersen of Vernon Hills, IL; 4 grandchildren: Ashley Flom, Nathan Flom, Tiffany Salazar, and Keyana Salazar; and great grandson, Keilon Jayce-Preston Salazar.

Funeral mass will be at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 4 - 8 PM at the Unger Horner Funeral Home, 400 N 6th St., Rochelle. Burial at the St. Patrick Cemetery. Memorials to the Rochelle Area Community Foundation, Rochelle Area Community Emergency Shelter or HOPE. Guest book at www.UngerHorner.com