SPRINGFIELD – Theresa C. (Antaya) Rivard, 94, of Springfield, passed peacefully into the Heart of God on Wednesday, June 24, 2015. She passed into Eternal Life at the Life Care Center of Wilbraham surrounded by all the memories she loved and cherished and returned to the loving embrace of her late husband, Victor J. Rivard who was Called Home on September 13, 2012. Theresa was born in Springfield on May 18, 1921, a beloved daughter of the late Felix J. and Alphonsine (Girouard) Antaya. She became a skillful homemaker and seamstress who proudly enjoyed maintaining a clean home or precisely hemming a gown while quietly humming a tune as her Singer busily whirred. Her gentle manner, compassionate listening and cheerful demeanor endeared her to her neighbors, sewing customers and parishioners at the former Saint Mary Church in East Springfield. In later years, Theresa greatly enjoyed traveling with Vic to visit her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Boston, Rhode Island, New Jersey and Philadelphia. She also made many road trips with old friends from Worcester, Sis and Babe Paquette, and family gatherings here or away were a great joy for her. She married her best friend and true love on January 10, 1942, Victor J. Rivard at the former Saint Thomas Aquinas Church in Springfield and they were both blessed with over 70 years of happiness together. She leaves her three loving sons, Donald V. Rivard of Lowell, MA, Ernest R. Rivard and his wife, Natalie, of Shrewsbury, MA, and David C. Rivard and his wife Kristin, of Cumberland, RI; her son-in-law, Gerard L. Federici of Ringwood, NJ; her nine cherished grandchildren, Mark Federici, Leonard Federici, Maria (Federici) Patania and her husband, Lance, all of New Jersey, Lisa Rivard of Salem, Noel Rivard of Belfast, ME, Gregory Rivard of Shrewsbury, Matthew Rivard of Agawam, and Stephanie Rivard and Derek Rivard, both of Cumberland, RI; her four cherished great-grandchildren, Kristen and Nicholas Federici, and Dominic and Angelina Patania, all of New Jersey; her dear sister-in-law, Beatrice Antaya; and her many dear nephews, nieces, cousins and extended members of the Rivard and Antaya families. Besides her parents and husband, she was also predeceased by her loving daughter, Cecile (Rivard) Federici who was Called Home on February 25, 2007; her four dear brothers, Lawrence, Oscar, Raymond and Lionel; and her four dear sisters, Rita, Estelle, Lillian and Irene. Her funeral will be held on Wednesday, July 1, 2015 beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Springfield Chapels, (413-737-1177), 7 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107. Her family will receive friends at the funeral home from 9:00 a.m. until 10:15 a.m. which will be followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. at Mary, Mother of Hope Church, 840 Page Boulevard, East Springfield, MA 01104. Her Committal Service will follow the Mass at 1:00 p.m. in the Chapel at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. Her family has requested that in lieu of flowers, please make donations to Mary, Mother of Hope Church, 840 Page Boulevard, Springfield, MA 01104 or to the Alzheimer’s Association, 264 Cottage Street, Springfield, MA 01104. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com