Mary Rodriguez

October 31, 1932 - April 23, 2025

Mary Rodriguez has left the material world and left behind an abundant legacy of love. Just 5' tall (in her dress Birkenstocks), she raised four children, taught hundreds, and took a few extras into her heart and even her home over the years. Full Irish by heritage, she was born on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and moved with her parents to Chicago and then Washington DC, where she graduated as valedictorian from Sacred Heart Academy and enrolled in DC Teachers College (now part of Howard University).

At college she met a tall, confident graduate of Staunton Military Academy with an exotic name, accepted his marriage proposal (on the condition he convert to the One True Faith) and looked forward to their happily ever after. Just nine years later, she was widowed while pregnant with their youngest, whom she named after Our Lady of Consolation.

Mary dedicated her career to education, teaching in parochial, private, and public schools in Washington, Maryland and Virginia. After earning a master's degree from the University of Virginia in 1985, she taught in and served as a school administrator in Albemarle and Culpeper counties before her retirement in 1997. Her personal life included a fascination for political activism and other ways to embarrass her children, a talent for baking the tastiest cookies and fanciest cakes and other ways to spoil her children, and the occasional attendance at live theater to spoil herself.

She had just two vices, both of which were part of her Irish DNA: a fondness for Guinness and the ability to hold a petty grudge. She did not indulge in either more than a dozen times in her life but thoroughly savored each when she did. She tried to instill many lessons in her children, two of which stuck with them all: You don’t need to understand or agree with people (especially the ones to whom you are related) to love and remain loyal to them. And: Buy the book now and worry about paying for groceries later.

Mary enjoyed a healthy and active life for over 92 years, filled with friends, family, literature, tea, ice cream, dogs, and (in spite of her best intentions) a couple of cats. Her final three weeks, following a stroke, were difficult; she and her family were grateful for the grace and care she and they received from the pastor of Incarnation Church and all the kind professionals at the Colonnades.

Mary Margaret Carr Rodriguez was preceded in death by her parents, Marie and George, her brother Patrick, her husband Philip, and her eldest child Patrick. She is survived by daughters Annie (Ronald) and Connie, and son Phil (Julian). Her remains will be buried next to those of her beloved husband, in the family plot at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Silver Spring, Maryland; arrangements pending. In lieu of funeral flowers, her children suggest that, in Mary’s memory, you send a bouquet to the nicest girl you know –one with a loud, goofy laugh.