Mrs. Charlotte Yakel Rivers, age 96, of San Diego, California, passed away peacefully Wednesday evening, September 21, 2022, at her residence with her daughter holding her hand.

She was born July 8, 1926, in Glendale, CA, a daughter of the late Harley and Leonoir Yakel.

Charlotte was preceded in death by her husband and love of her life, Glen Rivers; her mother and father, and brothers, Clyde Yakel and Theo Yakel.  She was a member of Presbyterian Church, and a homemaker.  She enjoyed quilting, making dolls, hospitality and visiting with her friends.  Her most important and influential purpose was that of mother and grandmother.

For as long as we can remember, Grammie (Charlotte) and Grampie (Glen) were a daily extension of our lives growing up.  We fondly remember playing office and school in the home office of their house, having sleepovers, trips to the swimming pool and watching cartoons with big plates of peanut butter crackers and cantaloupe.  Grammie made the best cinnamon rolls and always let us put on as much cinnamon and sugar as we wanted.  Grammie was our matriarch; she took care of us when we were sick while our parents were at work, carted us all over town, and made sure we had Kleenex under our pillows at night.  Even in our adult lives, she was always there with wonderful hugs, 'I love you's', good food, lots of warm, snuggly quilts, a comfortable bed and her gigantic, giving heart for her grandchildren.  It was always wonderful to come home to her. She loved to learn new things and talk about interesting things.  She always made us feel like the center of her world. Grammie was generous in her time, her smile, her adorable laugh and her love.  She was an incredibly strong and caring mother, who gave so much of herself to her family.  We are so thankful we got to have her in our lives for as long as we did, and our memories of her are plentiful, and full of joy and laughter.

Charlotte is survived by two daughters, Nina Lovell of New Ulm, MN, and Glenda Susan Rivers of Ronan, MT.   She has five grandchildren, Dana Smith, Joshua Lovell, Sarah Lovell, Amy Hoogerbrugge and Jonathan Hoogerbrugge, and several great-grandchildren and great-granddogs.  She also leaves many other family members and friends who will sadly miss her.

Charlotte will return home to San Diego to join her husband at El Camino Cemetery later this fall.