Annette Louise Rivard (83) of Newton

Annette Louise Rivard,  83, of Newton, Illinois, passed away at 6:20 p.m. Thursday, December 2, 2021, at Helia Healthcare of Newton.

Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 9, 2021, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Newton with Fr. Dean Probst, celebrating mass. Burial will be in the Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Newton.  Visitation will be held from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the church.  In loving memory of Annette, memorials may be made to the Jasper County Cancer Fund, PO Box 333, Newton, Illinois 62448. Arrangements are under the care of the Meyer Funeral Home in Newton.  Online condolences may be left by clicking here. www.meyerfh.com

Annette was born February 21, 1938, in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Robert and Dorothy (Raef) Berger. She married Gary Rivard July 4, 1986, in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, and he preceded her in death July 5, 2017. Annette had worked as a bank bookkeeper and as a seamstress at E.R. Moore Cap and Gown. She was a faithful member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Newton.  She was also a member of the Red Hatters. Annette enjoyed gardening and crocheting and had made over 600 afghans for the Linus Project. She and Gary loved their three dogs.   

Annette is survived by her children, Matthew Smith of Hutsonville, Sharon (Jim) Angle of Olney, Theresa Lame of Newton and Debbie (Randy) Ochs of Newton; 15 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren; brother, Robert (Sandra) Berger of Winnetka; sisters, Donna Fagan of Santa Clarita, California and Liz Twarowski of Lihue, Hawaii.

Annette was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two brothers-in-law and a niece.