Mildred Olivia Riba (nee Heckel) of Blanco, Texas, passed away on Thursday, September 4, 2008. She was 89 years old at the time of her death. Born to Oscar Heckel and Olivia Seymour Heckel on November 10, 1918, she was a lifelong resident of Blanco County. She lived her early years and attended school in the Rocky Creek community. As a teenager, she moved to Blanco and graduated from Blanco High School. On October 27, 1937 she married Herman Riba also of Blanco. The couple purchased a ranch east of Blanco in 1941 where she lived the remainder of her life.

The Ribas made their living farming and ranching for most of their married life. In later years, Mrs. Riba graduated from nursing school in Burnet achieving a Licensed Vocational Nurse designation. She worked at the Mill Nursing Home, Blanco, Texas which she and her husband owned. After retiring, she visited rural friends and neighbors providing company and using her nursing skills. Throughout her seventies and early eighties, she would often say that she found it rewarding visiting and helping “old people” .She enjoyed card parties, covered-dish luncheons, volunteering at the Good Samaritan, and many a domino game. At the age of eight-nine, she still managed to make her much loved holiday cookies for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was happiest when surrounded by her family and was blessed to have her family with her when she passed.

She is survived by two children, son Joe D. Riba of Blanco and daughter Patsy Lewis of Johnson City; seven grandchildren, Lanae Banks and husband Craig of Dripping Springs, Dana Wagner and husband Darrel, and Joe David Riba and wife Jennifer, all of Blanco, Janice Haley DeLeo and husband Tom of Hartsdale, New York, James Haley and wife Shauna, Lance Haley and wife Stephanie and Larry Haley, all of Johnson City; thirteen great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Herman Riba, her brother, Emil Heckel of Blanco, and her sister, Jewel Hooks of Stephenville.

Visitation was held Monday, September 8, at Croft’s Funeral Home in Blanco from 5 to 7p.m. with a Rosary immediately following.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, September 9, at 10a.m., at St. Ferdinand’s Catholic Church in Blanco, with burial immediately following at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Twin Sisters. Pallbearers were James Haley, Larry Haley, Lance Haley, Joe David Riba, Craig Banks, Darrel Wagner, Thomas DeLeo, Robert Flannery, and Kenneth Hunt.