Emilia Margarita Rodriguez

Emilia Margarita Rodriguez, 81 of Georgetown, passed away on Sunday, December 11, 2011. Visitation for Margarita will be held on Friday, December 16, 2011 from 6:00PM to 8:00PM with a Rosary at 7:00PM at The Gabriels Funeral Chapel, 393 North IH 35, Georgetown, Texas. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 2:00PM, at St. Helen Catholic Church, Georgetown, Texas. Interment will follow at Our Lady of the Rosary Cemetery, Georgetown, Texas. Margarita was born July 20, 1930 in Cuba to the late Mario A. Diaz and Emilia Maria Gonzalez Diaz. She is also preceded in death by her husband, Jose M. Rodriguez in 1987. Margarita had a passion for teaching and education; she achieved her Doctorate from the University of Havana in the early 1950’s. Being the adventurist type Margarita taught in the rural country side of Cuba, often riding a horse to get to her students. Her students were amazed at her bravery when she scared away a bull one day from her group of students. She taught in Cuba for several years before she and her family fled Havana in 1965. They spent a few months in Spain before migrating to the United States in 1966 to be closer to family. In 1968, Margarita and her husband, Jose settled with their family in the Austin area. She decided to continue her education and achieved her second Master’s degree at The University of Texas in 1971. Margarita’s faith and her strong Catholic heritage brought her through life and gave her the strength she needed. She was a longtime member of St. Louis Catholic Church and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Austin. Margarita was an active member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society while she was at both her cherished parishes. She has lived in the Georgetown area for the past 2 years. Margarita taught Spanish for the Austin ISD for many years, she retired in the early 1990’s. While with the Austin ISD, she taught at Lamar Junior High, Johnston High School and Anderson High School. Her passion for her students and her desire to help them learn Spanish touched the lives of many, and she will be remembered for many years. Margarita leaves behind to cherish her memory and continue her legacy; her children, Miguel Rodriguez of Austin, Jose L. Rodriguez of Austin, and Carmen E. Henderson and her husband Daniel of Georgetown; her two siblings, Mario J. Diaz and his wife Raquel of Miami, FL and Lucia Diaz of Miami, FL.; her five grandchildren, Mark J. Henderson, Steven M. Henderson, Phillip F. Henderson, Teresa M. Henderson and Emily C. Henderson; along with other loving family and friends. Margarita welcomed people with kindness and gave of herself with seemingly boundless generosity. Margarita’s legacy is her faith, her family and her students, she will be truly missed. Memorial donations honoring Margarita should be made to any local St. Vincent de Paul Society. Personal words of comfort may be sent to the family online at www.gabrielsfuneral.com.