Riva was born in 1881. Riva's father was Simon (Shaya) Katz and her mother was Raiza Satz. Her paternal grandfather was Joseph Katz and her paternal grandmother is <Unknown>. She had a brother and three sisters, named Abraham, Chaya, Lena and Annie. She was the oldest of the five children. She died at the age of 64 in 1945. She was buried at the West Park Cemetery.