Mary Lou Rodriguez

Mary Lou Rodriguez went to be with the lord on September 2, 2022. She passed away at home with both of her daughters by her side after a short struggle with cancer. She was 85 years old. We are grateful for all the years she was healthy and able to live life, devoting time to her Catholic church, seeing her family, and even traveling to Hawaii!

Mary Lou (Maria Louisa) was born to Louis Ramirez (of Morelia Meochacan, Mexico) and Mary Miller (of Sonora, Mexico) on May 30th, 1937 in Glendale, California. Lovingly called “Tiki” by her family, she lived at home in Glendale, CA until she was 17 years old, at which time she married the love of her life, Bennie Rodriguez. After marriage, they spent some time in Yuma, AZ while Bennie was in the military until they made their way back to the Los Angeles area. They started raising their children in Burbank before relocating to Thousand Oaks. In 2016 Mary Lou and Bennie moved up to Fresno, CA to be closer to family and she remained there for the remainder of her life.

Mary Lou had four children; Debora Veronica, Elwood, Liza, and Benedict Jr. From the mid 70’s to the late 80’s she worked on high-tech electronics at Teledyne Technologies and Grumman Aerospace. She then spent the remainder of her professional life as a cashier at Vons. Mary Lou retired from Vons to care for her father in the final stages of his life. Shortly after, her husband Bennie had a disabling stroke and she spent the next 17 years as a truly dedicated caregiver to her husband.

Mary Lou enjoyed her collection of antique furniture, watching classic movies, and celebrating her favorite holiday – St Patrick’s Day. Always the devout Catholic, she felt closest to St. Francis because of their shared love of animals. She especially adored the many pets she raised over the year, most recently Cinnamon & Vida.

Mary Lou is preceded in death by her husband Bennie, her parents Louis Ramirez and Mary Miller, her brother Louis Jr., and her great granddaughter Angelica Mari Wilson.

Mary Lou leaves behind a sister Erlinda Lobato; two daughters, Veronica Shellhart of Fresno, Liza Ingram of Grover Beach; two sons Elwood Rodriguez of Thousand Oaks, Benedict Jr Rodriguez of Concord; 8 Grandchildren Brooke Serafine, Brent Chase, Genesis Wilson, Speedy Ortiz, Adam Ortiz, Evelyn Rodriguez, Luke Rodriguez, Elliot Rodriguez; 6 great grandchildren Trent Wilson, Sage Ortiz, Layla Wilson, Conner Serafine, Logan Serafine, Sydney Serafine.

Recitation of the Rosary will be held Thursday, September 29, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. at Whitehurst Sullivan Burns & Blair Funeral Home 836 E Nees Ave, Fresno, CA 93720.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, September 30, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 355 East Champlain Drive, Fresno, CA 93730

Interment will follow at St. Peter ’s Cemetery, 264 N Blythe Ave., Fresno, CA 93706.