Julia Macias Macias Rodriguez

Julia Rodriguez age 77 went to be with the Lord and her beloved husband and cherished son on January 5, 2011. Surrounded by her entire family, friends, God children and Comadres at the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Loving wife of the late Ruben R. Rodriguez, cherished mother of Juanita Virginia (Carlos) Lepe, Pola I. Rodriguez, Concepcion (Zacarias Moreno) Rodriguez, Gelacio (Fina) Rodriguez and the Late Ruben B-B Rodriguez and San Juanita Herrera. Loving Grandmother of 16 grandchildren, Ruben, Monica, Mario, Priscilla Naomi, Ruben Michael, Isauro, Julia, Abel, Daniel , Adriana Victoria , Alexandra Rebecca , Andres, Patricia Angelica, Mateo, Diana & Raul. great grandmother of 14; Ruben, Jasmine, Daniel, Nathinel, Samantha, Kristina, Angelica, John Michael, Landen, Tessa, Isabella, Joshua, Samuel Ricardo,and baby Zoe. Beloved sister of the late Jose (Rafaela) Macias, Maria (the late Juan) Rosales, the late Gabriel, (the Late Dolores) Macias, Maria Refugio (Francisco) Quijada, Maria Isabel ( Jesus) Perez, the late Gabino (Aurora) Macias, Gloria (Ruben) Guerrero, Amparo (Juan) Rivera, and the late Luciano Macias. Aunt of many nieces and nephews and a great friend to all and Madrina to many.

Visitation, Sunday, January 9th, 2 pm – 9 pm at Memorial Funeral Home, 311 E. Expressway 83, San Juan, Texas 78589.

Visitation Tuesday, January 11th, at St. Procopius Church, 1641 S. Allport Street, Chicago, IL 3:00 pm – 9:00 pm.

Funeral Service, Wednesday, January 12th, Mass of Resurrection 10:00 am. Interment St. Mary Cemetery, Evergreen Park, IL.

Please celebrate Julia’s Life and visit www.woodlawnchicago.com or www.dignitymemorial.com

Arrangements under the direction of Zefran Funeral Directors - Woodlawn Funeral Home, Forest Park, Illinois. Concepción Rodriguez, Funeral Director.

“Anything is possible.” That is what Julia Macias Rodriguez believed about life. She was a creative woman, a perpetual inventor, who seemed to be able to find a solution for any difficulty confronting her. She had faith in her ability to find those solutions. Julia thoroughly enjoyed understanding how things worked. She possessed an inquisitive, confident, and rational nature matched with a versatile and agile mind. Julia was a person who believed that she could achieve whatever she set out to do.

Her parents were Gelacio Macias & Concepción Martinez. Julia was raised in Pharr Texas and Monterrey Nuevo Leon, Mexico. She showed her ingenuity even as a child. When she was confronted with a problem, Julia could develop an imaginative solution, and she derived satisfaction from knowing she had that ability.

This same talent for finding solutions had a positive bearing on Julia's family relationships. Julia was raised with 12 siblings. She had five older brothers Pedro, Rosendo, Domingo, Jose, Gabriel, two younger brothers Gabino and Luciano, two older sisters Maria and Maria Del Refugio and three younger sisters Maria Isabel, Gloria and Amparo. When a difficult situation or dilemma arose within the family, Julia was always there to help figure out a solution for making things work.

Julia was socially resourceful, an expressive person who was willing to try new things. These qualities drew a lively circle of friends around her. Always interested in her friends’ activities and interests, Julia was uncritical of her acquaintances. She was sought after by people who recognized that she was generous with her time and energy, and these same friends found Julia to be very stimulating company. Julia's humor and curiosity were contagious for those around her. While growing up, some of her best friends were Lupe Garza, Lupe Briones, her sisters and her cousins. Later in life, she became friends with Inez, Pepa, Carmen, Teresa, Claudia, Rosa, Lencha, Elba, Miquita,Cuca Heredia, Imelda, Marylou las chicas doradas de las Guadalupanas de San Procopio.

On July 10, 1955 Julia exchanged wedding vows with Ruben Rosales Rodriguez at St. Margaret Catholic Church of Pharr, Texas. Julia was adept at devising original and creative ways to enhance and improve the marriage partnership. Julia was seldom a critical person, but rather the one who was able to bring out the best in others. Julia was an entertaining conversationalist who was quick to respond to her spouse’s needs. She was a vibrant personality and she enjoyed verbally sparring with Ruben. In fact, those who knew her often remarked that Julia loved to argue for argument’s sake. She was very perceptive in recognizing others’ feelings, especially regarding Ruben's.

Julia's remarkable talent for being inventive influenced her relationship with her children. She would create original, clever and fun games for her kids and had a knack for finding ways to make everyday events, even chores, enjoyable to them. Julia was blessed with five children and one step daughter, Juanita Virginia, Pola Isabel, Concepción, Gelacio, Ruben B-B and step daughter San Juanita. They were also blessed with 16 grandchildren, Ruben, Monica, Mario, Priscilla Naomi, Ruben Michael, Isauro, Julia, Abel, Daniel, Adriana Victoria, Alexandra Rebecca, Andres, Patricia Angelica, Mateo, Diana & Raul. Great grandchildren; Ruben, Jasmine, Daniel, Nathinel, Samantha, Kristina, Angelica, John Michael, Landen, Tessa, Isabella, Joshua, Samuel Ricardo,and baby Zoe. Someone who was quick to laugh, Julia found it easy to spend lots of time with her children, but she was never overbearing or guilty of pushing herself on them.

As a born inventor, Julia was definitely in her element in her work place. She could easily create new and innovative systems, and incorporate those changes to bring a fresh approach to any work situation. Julia was a focused worker with a strong drive for achievement. She could assess all of the options before her and, using her analytical skills, could comfortably find answers that no one else had even considered. Her personal initiative inspired those around her. Julia was always good at getting a project started and then, at the appropriate time, handing it on to a colleague. Her primary occupation was full time mother and grandmother. Julia always made an effort to be a team player, doing what needed was necessary in order to get the job done.

Julia's passion for finding a better way to do things was often an end in itself for her. In fact, that interest by itself became something of a hobby for this perpetual problem solver. Since Julia was always searching for new and unusual activities, she developed many interests and leisure pursuits. Some of the things she became an “expert” in might come as a surprise to those who knew her, but most friends and family understood that Julia simply couldn’t be limited to just a few activities or ideas. Her favorite pursuits were cooking and watching novelas.

Julia was continually concerned with the status of local, national and even world affairs. Her keen interest and strong values led her to become active in her community. Serving on committees for the St, Procopius, Dvorak Park, Jungman PTA. Politically, Julia was a Democrat.

Faith and religion were important to Julia. She was a member of St, Procopius Church for over 43 years. During that time, she was on the founding memeber of the Guadalupanas and Crusilistas, Grupo Carismatico, Eucharistic Minister.

With all of her talents, her ingenuity, her solutions and inventiveness, it is no surprise that Julia received public recognition for her competence. With the drive and ability to meet any challenge, Julia accumulated a long list of achievements throughout her life. Some of her most prestigious awards included serving as a long term member of Las Guadalupanas for her service to the Church and community.

Having the opportunity to visit and explore a new place always intrigued Julia. Traveling and going away on vacations offered yet another opportunity for Julia to expand her ever-growing inventory of knowledge. Favorite vacations included going to Texas, to Monterrey,Nuevo Leon, Mexico, Las Vegas, New York.

Julia was a lover of animals and cherished her pets. One of Julia's favorites was Butch a mixed Terrier. They were best friends for 19 years.

Julia wen to be with the Lord on January 5, 2011 at University of Illinois Hospital, Chicago, Illinois. Julia had many ailments Diabetes, Congetive Heart Failure, Renal Failure, and Vascular Disease.

During her lifetime, nothing appeared impossible to Julia. She met the words “it can’t be done” with the enthusiastic challenge of a “wanna bet” attitude. Julia was able to recognize the possibilities a new idea held, even when those around her could not. For Julia, the traditional way of doing things fell short of her expectations, especially if there were original and untested methods for handling a challenge. For Julia Macias Rodriguez, the fun of living her life could be found in the challenge.