Anita Marie (St. Pierre) Rivette passed away peacefully on September 24, 2020, due to COVID-related heart failure. She was born in Paw Paw, Michigan, on November 6, 1937, to George and Elaine St. Pierre. She was an only child but always thought of her cousins, Kay and Joanne Rix, as the sisters she never had. She and Kay were especially close. Kay went on St. Pierre family vacations and played drums with Anita in the Paw Paw High School band.
Anita married her husband of 62 years, Lynn Rivette, on May 10, 1958. For him, it was “love at first sight,” when he met Anita at age 13. For her, marrying Lynn was, to George’s consternation, more important than going to college. She worked at Michigan Bell Telephone after high school, and left when she had her first child, Michele, then her son, Thomas Kyle. The family moved to Stevensville, Michigan, in 1966, and she lived there the rest of her life.
Anita was a stay-at-home mom for years, then worked at the State of Michigan for 19 years in Benton Harbor. Her favorite role was being Mom and Nana. She said recently that her children were “the pride of my life.” Anita’s happiest times were when she and Lynn attended activities that their children and grandchildren enjoyed: music, theater, sports, particularly traveling to Alabama for Tom’s spring training games when he played baseball in college. “Needs” had dear friends with whom she took ceramics, had weekly breakfasts, and traveled during her mid-life years.
Anita will be remembered for her great cooking, especially her soups and macaroni and cheese; her love of music, candles, and QVC; and her steady, quiet strength and unfailing love for her family. Even during difficult months before her death, she was uncomplaining and accepting.
Anita is survived by her beloved husband, Lynn Rivette; her daughter, Michele Rivette (Ann Arbor); her son, Thomas Rivette and his fiancée, Amanda Fannon; four grandchildren, Lauren and Mikey Rivette (Stevensville), Maia Rivette (Ann Arbor), and Miah Fannon (Stevensville); Kay (Rix) and Dennis Lawton (Kalamazoo); sister-in-law, Cheryl (Rivette ) Weatherford (Tennessee); and many younger cousins and their families.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family, c/o Lynn Rivette, at Starks Family Funeral Homes, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph, MI 49085. Contributions to charities will be made at a later time. Anita did not wish to have a funeral, but there will be a private family celebration of her life at a later date. She will be buried at the Prospect Hill Cemetery in Paw Paw, MI. Those wishing to sign Anita’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Posted On: Tuesday, September 29, 2020 9:11 AM
