Fidela Rivera Hawk passed away on Friday, June 5, 2009. She was born on December 20, 1971 to Isidoro Rivera Ramos and Francisca Rivera Aguilar in Jalisco, Mexico. She and her family moved to Santa Ynez Valley in 1986 and attended Santa Ynez High School. She was very eager to learn the English language and started to translate her favorite songs from English to Spanish. Fidela was known fondly to her family as "La Paloma". She met Michael Hawk and raised three sons during their 16-year marriage. Fideala worked at the Chumash Casino Resort for 14 years where she held various positions throughout her career. She was well known and loved by many co-workers who nick-named her "La Gorda". She loved living in the Santa Ynez Valley and loved finding deals at garage sales. She loved music, dancing, and living life. Fidela was the heart and soul of her family, supporting and protecting each and every one and will be sorely missed. She is survived by her parents of Buellton; sons, Michael, Jason, and Joshua of Lompoc; her beloved and cherished grandmother of Jalisco; brothers and sisters, Rosa and Dominga of Lompoc, Yadi and Adilene of Buellton, Marcos and Martha of Solvang and Armando and Adelaida of Jalisco along with numerous nieces and nephews

A funeral mass and vigil services will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. Monday, June 15, 2009 at Mission Santa Ines in Solvang. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Ballard.