“We’re very excited to be the hometown funeral home in Los Alamos, bringing convenience, care and personalized service to the families of Los Alamos and White Rock,” owner Tim Rivera said.

Although the office is new to Los Alamos, the Rivera’s have been providing funeral services in northern New Mexico for more than 80 years. Rivera is the only local family owned funeral provider in northern New Mexico with locations in Taos, Espanola, Santa Fe and now Los Alamos.

The Los Alamos office was designed to provide convenience for funeral and cremation planning for the residents on the hill. All cremations and care of loved ones will be coordinated with their care center at the Espanola location.

Los Alamos Manager Jim Martinez will be able to handle all aspects of funeral planning and cremations services. The beautiful chapels in Santa Fe and Espanola are available if a family does not have a local church or temple, he said.

The office is warm and welcoming, with a small chapel/gathering area, but it’s the caring atmosphere that sets Rivera apart.

“We’re here to honor and remember the stories of the people who live here,” Martinez said.

The Rivera family has Los Alamos roots. Tim’s wife Kellie Evans-Rivera’s grandfather came to work at the Lab around 1946. Three generations of the Evans and Wilhelm family have worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

The business embraces the cultural richness of northern New Mexico, Rivera said. They serve a diverse community and work with all religious traditions.

For example they offer traditional Jewish burials, working closely with the Funeral Societies to prepare a loved one for burial or cremation.

“We’ve started to make ceremony and ritual a bigger part of what happens,” he said. “The death of a loved one is a long and painful transition process for the people we’re working with. We’re here to care for the families of Los Alamos and White Rock.”

Martinez who is a retired US Army Major also has a degree in Religious Studies from the College of Santa Fe.

Rivera praised his skill in creating meaningful farewell ceremonies for friends and family, whether they are religious or not.

Currently, the Los Alamos office is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday or by appointment at any time. Rivera stressed that the phone is answered 24/7 by “real people”.

Martinez and Rivera invite the community to stop by the office to learn more about the services they are now providing to Los Alamos and White Rock.

“We are now part of the community on the hill and can be reached anytime at 505.663.6880,” Rivera said.