Emily Kvitek, age 81 of Glenwood, died Tuesday, October 5, 2021 at Glenwood Retirement Village. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Monday, October 25, 2021 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glenwood. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the Calvary Cemetery at Glenwood. Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home of Glenwood.

Emilia "Emily" Vives was born February 5, 1940 in Quebradillas, Puerto Rico to Laureano and Emilia (Rodriguez) Vives. The fifth of the couple's nine children, she grew up in Quebradillas where she attended school and the Presbyterian Church. She graduated from Manuel Ortiz High School in 1958, and then attended the Royal Commercial College in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, where she earned a degree in Secretarial Science.

Emily met Robert "Bob" Kvitek while he was an airman stationed at the Ramey Air Force Base in Puerto Rico. The two wed on June 2, 1962 at San Rafael Catholic Church in Quebradillas. Following their marriage, they made their home in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, close to the air force base where Robert was stationed. In 1963, following his honorable discharge, Emily moved with her new husband to his hometown of Glenwood in Minnesota. Once there they established their home and enjoyed fifty more years together before Bob's death on June 10, 2013.

Before moving to Minnesota, Emily worked for the First Presbyterian Hospital in San Juan for four years. After moving to Glenwood, she worked for the Glenwood Retirement Village as well as the Minnewaska Lutheran Home. She and Bob were members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Emily will be remembered for being a kind, caring and all around lovely woman.

Emily is survived by her sister, Maximina Jordan Vives; her brother, Jose "PePe" Vives; sisters-in-law, Lidia Perez, Myrtle Prchal and Roxann Kvitek; along with nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Laureano Vives and Emilia Rodriguez; her husband, Robert Kvitek in 2013; two brothers, Herman and Laureano Jr. Vives; and four sisters, Marlen, Laura, Noelia and Rafaelina Vives.

Emily's family would like to thank everyone who in one way or another took care of Emily during her last illness and gave her support during her time of need. Thank you and may God Bless each and every one of you. – Jose Vives

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.