Maria Ruberta (Jimenez Vazquez) Verdicchio

Maria Ruberta Jimenez Vazquez Verdicchio, 93, of Kannapolis passed away peacefully at her home with her family by her side on Wednesday, May 27, 2020.

Her family will receive friends at Whitley’s Funeral from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Thursday, May 28. Burial services will be held at Palm Bay, FL at a later date.

Maria was born October 2, 1926 in Orocovis, Puerto Rico, a daughter of the late Jose Jimenez and the late Juana Vazquez.  She was the youngest of 7 children. In addition to her parents, Maria was preceded in death by her first husband, Thomas Rivera, Sr., her son, Thomas Rivera, Jr., her second husband, Anthony Verdicchio as well as 5 of her siblings.

In early years Maria worked in the garment industry as a machine operator and then later in a carnation nursery. She was loving and generous and was known as everyone’s “Mama” where ever she lived.

Maria is survived by her sons, Jesus “Jesse” Rivera (Olga) of Knoxville TN and Carlos Rivera of Kannapolis; her daughter, Carmen M. Rivera of the family home and her stepson Jerry Verdicchio (Diane) of Palm Bay, FL, as well as 9 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren and her sister, Josefa Ramos of Tampa Bay, FL.