St. Jude Children's Research Hospital seeks to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric... moreSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital seeks to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of their founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay.
St. Jude’s strives to be the world leader in advancing the treatment and prevention of catastrophic diseases in children, by providing outstanding patient care; conducting basic, translational and clinical research designed to elucidate biological mechanisms, understand disease pathogenesis, improve diagnosis, enhance treatment outcome, prevent diseases and minimize adverse consequences of treatment; and by educating health care and scientific research professionals. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since it opened more than 50 years ago. less
We created a GatheringUs memorial to celebrate the life of Lira Teresa Riera-Seivane. Collecting your stories and memories here will offer us great comfort. Click on the heart to let us know you were here and to receive email updates.
We decided, as a family, that instead of flowers we would appreciate... see moreWe created a GatheringUs memorial to celebrate the life of Lira Teresa Riera-Seivane. Collecting your stories and memories here will offer us great comfort. Click on the heart to let us know you were here and to receive email updates.
We decided, as a family, that instead of flowers we would appreciate giving to Liria's favorite non-profit organization. Click on the Giving tab for more information.
Thank you for contributing to this lasting memorial.
OBITUARY
Liria T. Riera-Seivane, 48 years old, left this world on August 10, 2021. For the last two years she battled breast cancer fiercely and courageously.
She is survived by her parents, Alberto Riera-Ferro and Maria Teresa Seivane-Echevarria, her two brothers, Alejandro and Jaime Riera-Seivane, and sisters-in-law, Puri Garcia-Serrablo and Olga E. Feliciano.
My sister passed away a week ago this afternoon. One week ago. That she is no longer with us is still hard to swallow. As I wrote on a Facebook post last Wednesday as I was still trying to process the news, she was the best of us.
I like to think of her... moreMy sister passed away a week ago this afternoon. One week ago. That she is no longer with us is still hard to swallow. As I wrote on a Facebook post last Wednesday as I was still trying to process the news, she was the best of us.
I like to think of her as my Mini-Me. We shared the same tastes in movies, books and some music and even some television shows (big Doctor Who and Babylon 5 fans both of us). We even had the same British-influenced sarcastic sense of humor (I always wondered if we were born in the wrong island).
She was an incredibly curious person, her search for knowledge going beyond the obvious (the latest studies and breakthroughs in veterinary medicine and medicine in general). And it was that curiosity that drove her, a day before she graduated from Ross University in a ceremony in New York City, to grab her video camera, jump and hold tight to a light pole and start shooting a protest that was marching down 5th Avenue (I think it was 5th avenue; never been too good with directions) like any professional news cameraperson (and, keep in mind, I was the journalist in the family and had some training in video). It was the speed in which she pulled out the camera, the sense of capturing the moment, that had me picking up my jaw from the floor. (I think Mom was screaming, “¡Pero bájate de ahí, niña!”)
It was that sense of purpose, that drive, tat curiosity that drove her. A curiosity that extended to anything and everything technical. She is responsible for building my parents’ entire computer system and, somebody correct me here if I’m wrong, those of the clinics she worked for. She was a far more disciplined student than I ever was.
It saddens me that she was taken away from us too soon. It saddens me that she wasn’t able to see more of the world, make new friends, spread her wings wider than she did. But I am also proud of the life she lived, the joys she felt, the career that she built. I will miss our constant switching back and forth between English and Spanish and taking on weird accents and voices; I will miss her witty text messages; I will miss sending her the newest comics I’ve read and her comments (“Well, that was dark” after reading the first six issues of THAT TEXAS BLOOD, a noir comic book about, yep, you guessed it, Texas and crime).
Finally, a huge huge huge abrazo y gracias to all of you who shared your thoughts and condolences via video, text, personal messages, emails and even songs (and there were plenty of songs shared). All of you: Jaime’s musician peeps, my Carleton College tribe, our close family and extended family (all the Felicianos and all the Santiagos and all the Collazos and every one in between), to my brothers and sisters in Chicago’s film critic and film festival communities, to mine and Olga’s Ann Arbor peeps, my sister’s peers…each one of you. You don’t know how much your words have given us solace and comfort.
And now, as we heal, we begin relishing the memories of that Cosmic being you all know as Liria Teresa Riera-Seivane. less
There are not that many words to express how sad and devastated we are as a family, specially me, for your early departure. You got the golden ticket, and not from Willy Wonka, to ride that marvelous train to Forever Land.
For the last weeks, I have... moreThere are not that many words to express how sad and devastated we are as a family, specially me, for your early departure. You got the golden ticket, and not from Willy Wonka, to ride that marvelous train to Forever Land.
For the last weeks, I have been going through memory lane. Do you remember (Bowie’s Ashes to Ashes) the many times you took my toys and filled them with baby powder, painted my GI Joe’s faces? and I even had try to find where you hid them.
It was while you were in Kindergarden that I learned from you how to snap my fingers and many other things, which I have kept doing it until today.
I shared with Dad the many instances that you wanted a Hello Kitty toy, but he had no money to buy it, upsetting you. I spent the whole trip back home comforting you and trying to make you happy with little success. But it was worth it. I treasure those small memories.
We used to share our stories while we traveled on public transportation from school, and when I was in college and I picked you up at your high school.
You did not like any of my college/grad school girlfriends and I did not know why. You were protective/caring of your loved ones and you did not want to seen them get hurt (you witnessed in real-time all my heartbroken moments). I did not see this until I was more mature.
Our Spring Break vacation at St. Kitts while you were in Vet School was amazing. You showed me around and had a blast with you for 4 days.
Our last years and weeks together meant much more than our whole life. They were the best of our times.
I will miss you lovely tune when answering my calls (“aló”). I will miss sending you many texts and your replies to them in a single day. I will miss telling you I love you every time I called you, even when you were not able to speak. I will miss seeing your face on my screen and listen to you telling me about your day at work and at the hospital. I will miss telling you to call me any time of the day, that nothing mattered more to me than to be there for you, and your reply: “yeah”. I knew you did not want me to worry.
I will miss my guitar sessions with you every Thursday, and how you progressed in our routine. You were, by far, very talented and unique. You had a thing for guitar playing and I let you know.
You were the first person I contacted when I composed a song and filmed it for you. You always said kind words to me, even though I knew I sucked! You were my partner in crime when I brought a new guitar at home and without Puri knowing about it. We are guilty at charge on that part. But we did not care.
You were going to be my partner in many road-trips while you stayed with us, but our plans never came to fruition. Your ticket to ride was coming soon. Every time I listen to She got a ticket to ride, I will think of you.
I knew your days on this planet were going to be short. Puri and I FaceTimed you to show you what was awaiting for you in DC. We wanted so bad to have you with us! Your smile meant a lot and I knew that maybe, a big maybe, you would not be with us at home.
I did not want to admit that you were going to leave us soon. My heart was in denial. But I know that you were in pain, and you did not deserve to suffer any more.
Your body may not be here with us anymore, but your energy is with me and I know is cruising across our Universe in light-speed.
Someday we will see each other again, and we will make a lot of noise with my guitar, and I hope you have yours handy. We will make sure that every energy-being around us can join us and form the perfect music Big Bang for every living being's enjoyment.
Keep the amps on, because when we get together we will not take a Stairway to Heaven, but we will leave everyone Dazed and Confused with some getting Close to the Edge. I love you forever. less
Jaime Riera-Seivane
Gracias Brenda por tus palabras. Ustedes han sido siempre una fuente de apoyo para nosotros y el cariño que ustedes nos profesan es siempre apreciado.
Edleen Feliciano
Liria, my sweet sister-in-law, you will always be present in our lives and thoughts. Therefore, this is not a goodbye but a see you later.
Dolores BurguetLiria,
My heart is filled with wonderful memories of joyous times together. Our trips to Puerto Rico , your visit to Atlanta during your Spring break, our quick get togethers at the airport on your way to college. Our trip to Deltona. You left is us... moreLiria,
My heart is filled with wonderful memories of joyous times together. Our trips to Puerto Rico , your visit to Atlanta during your Spring break, our quick get togethers at the airport on your way to college. Our trip to Deltona. You left is us way too soon. Your life has changed, not ended. May your soul enjoy eternal life.
Jaime Riera-Seivane
Ciao Elizabeth, grazie per il supporto emotivo a mia madre e mio padre. È stato a causa di persone come te che non hanno aiutato a portare questo pesante e triste fardello. Spero un giorno di incontrarti e ringraziarti personalmente.
Dr. Harold Lidin, su familia y empleados, momento muy doloroso con tan triste noticia. Liria trabajo con nosotros por 14 años sin contar sus años de voluntaria. Hija ejemplar, trabajadora y con unos principios que ya muchos quisiéramos tener. Que... moreDr. Harold Lidin, su familia y empleados, momento muy doloroso con tan triste noticia. Liria trabajo con nosotros por 14 años sin contar sus años de voluntaria. Hija ejemplar, trabajadora y con unos principios que ya muchos quisiéramos tener. Que descanse paz, la vamos a extrañar un abrazo fuerte a sus padres y hermanos. less
Jaime Riera-SeivaneHola Doctor, mis padres le agradecen sus palabras de apoyo y solidaridad durante estos momentos. Nuestro agradecimiento sincero por todo el tiempo y carino que compartio con Liria. Muchas gracias por su donativo, mis padres y sus hermanos le estamos... moreHola Doctor, mis padres le agradecen sus palabras de apoyo y solidaridad durante estos momentos. Nuestro agradecimiento sincero por todo el tiempo y carino que compartio con Liria. Muchas gracias por su donativo, mis padres y sus hermanos le estamos agradecidos por su generosidad y palabras en este homenaje que le creamos. Jaime
Jaime Riera-SeivaneHi Stacey, it was nice to meet you and all your wonderful peers at the Clinic. All of you meant a World to my sister, and for me that was very important. Liria always talked about all of you in a positive way. You were family to her. Because of that, my... moreHi Stacey, it was nice to meet you and all your wonderful peers at the Clinic. All of you meant a World to my sister, and for me that was very important. Liria always talked about all of you in a positive way. You were family to her. Because of that, my love to all of you. Thank you for taking care of her during her time with you. Love Jaime
Please join us in remembering Liria's life through this video. Double click on the video to see it on Full Screen, it has a poem from Chrissie Pinney and words from us honoring her.
Please feel free to share any anecdotes, memories and/or pictures you ...