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Anita ‘Annie’ Rios, 79

On Sunday, July 21, 2019, Anita “Annie” Rios, loving wife, mother and grandmother, passed away at the age of 79, in Coeur d’Alene.

Annie was born on March 11, 1940, in Burbank, Calif., to Fred and Jennie Cortez. Annie was raised in the San Fernando Valley with her six brothers and sisters, and attended elementary school until sixth grade. Annie then started working and helping at home to help support her large family.

She continued to work hard in her adult life, and, even without further education, was a lead person at Price Pfister, where she met her future husband, Mario Rios. Mario and Annie were married on Feb. 19, 1965, and moved to Idaho in 1978. Annie continued to work and raise her family until her illness forced her to finally retire.

Annie then took on a new job of spoiling and loving her five grandsons, which never stopped. Annie’s love for her grandsons was indescribable; they were her pride and joy. Annie would spend her last dollar and her last bit of energy to take them shopping and get haircuts. The boys routinely got special lunch dates with Grandma when they were young with some sort of kids’ meal or personal pan pizza. Even on Annie’s last day, when she couldn’t open her eyes or speak, she slightly nodded her head when her grandsons told her they loved her.

Her passion was her grandsons, but when she wasn’t doing that, she loved to cook. When Annie would cook, she didn’t cook just a little bit, she would cook more than enough to make sure she could deliver food to her favorite people. Many will remember Annie for her tamales and her salsa and enchiladas, even though her grandsons loved her tortilla pizza. Annie loved her church family and prayed regularly for them, as well her own family.

Annie was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Christina; sisters, Connie and Sally; brothers, Manuel and Bernie and nephews, Paul and Jose. Annie is survived by her husband, Mario Sr.; son, Mario Jr.; daughter, Jennifer; grandsons, Andrew, Ryan, Aaron, Matthew and Bennett; sisters, Yolanda and Elizabeth; as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019, at Hayden Family Worship Center, 697 W. Dakota Ave., Hayden, Idaho. Light refreshments will follow immediately after the service.

The family would also like to thank the Cancer Center and Hospice of North Idaho for making Annie’s last days so comfortable for her.

Visit Annie’s memorial and sign her online guest book at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.