Margarita von Werder (née Rivera), age 91, passed away peacefully on July 26, 2026, in Winter Springs, Florida. She was surrounded in her final days by her sons Danny and Robert, and her dedicated caregiver Traci, and her faithful dog Cecelia.

Margarita was born on February 17, 1935, in Los Angeles, California, to Francisco Rivera and Maria Leyva Rivera. She spent most of her early life in Menlo Park, California, growing up alongside a vibrant extended family. As a young woman, Margarita attended the Hollywood Wilshire Beauty College, a pivotal chapter in her life where she studied cosmetology and met her future husband, Gerald Patrick von Werder.

On her 22nd birthday, February 17, 1957, Margarita and Gerald were wed in Las Vegas, Nevada. Together, they shared 34 beautiful years and raised a family that became Margarita’s greatest joy and pride. She was devoted mother to her sons, Danny and Robert. Though she endured the heartbreaking loss of her eldest son, Gerald Patrick von Werder, Jr., her love to her children and grandchildren remained unconditional. Her beloved husband, Gerald Sr., passed away in Los Osos on May 9, 1991. After 35 years apart, they are now peacefully reunited.

A hardworking and entrepreneurial spirit, Margarita began her career as a licensed cosmetologist, working alongside her husband in a salon they were to co-own. Her deep love for animals eventually guided her next professional venture: opening her own dog grooming business in Hollywood, California. After successfully selling that shop, the family relocated to Los Osos, California, in 1984, where Margarita established a new, thriving dog grooming business. Throughout her life’s long journey, she kept a true menagerie of beloved cats and dogs, including her final feline companion, Trouble, who served as a dedicated protector and brought her immense joy.

Margarita served as the moral compass of her family. She taught her children and grandchildren not by telling them how to live, but by showing them how to be good human beings. She leaves behind a legacy built on treating people with respect, valuing hard work, offering unconditional love, and her simple, guiding rule: "when in doubt, just do the right thing."

One of Margarita’s greatest pleasures was utterly spoiling her grandchildren. She took immense pride in caring for them, which famously included ironing everything from their clothes to their bedsheets, teaching them the art of sewing, knitting, quilting, gardening, and making s'mores together during family trips to the Georgia mountains.

Margarita was a devoted grandmother and is survived by her grandchildren: Cole, Maxwell, Hayley, Elizabeth, and Joshua von Werder. She was preceded in death by her cherished grandson, Ryan von Werder.

Margarita's familial bonds were her anchor. Among her siblings, she is survived by her brother, David Rivera. She was welcomed into eternity by her sisters Delia Avala, Anna Rivera, Sarah Johnson, and Jessie Rivera, as well as her brother Francisco Rivera.

Family and friends are invited to honor Margarita’s remarkable life and legacy on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at DeGusipe Funeral Home - Maitland Chapel, 9001 Orlando Ave, Maitland, FL 32751. A Memorial Gathering will begin at 2:30 p.m., immediately followed by a Celebration of Life service at 3:00 p.m.

Margarita’s life story is cherished by all who knew her, and her memory will remain an enduring source of love, strength, and inspiration.