Anita "Annie" Rios

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

Annie was born on March 11, 1940 in Burbank, California to Fred and Jennie Cortez. Annie was raised in the San Fernando Valley with her 6 brothers and sisters and attended elementary school until 6th grade. Annie then started working and helping at home to help support her large family. Annie 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 February 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 kid’s 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 know Annie for her tamales, salsa and enchiladas, even though her grandsons loved her tortilla pizza. Annie loved her church family and body 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 on August 17, 2019, at Hayden Family Worship Center 697 W. Dakota Ave. Hayden, ID at 11am. 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. Light refreshments will follow immediately after the service.