Celia R. Rodriguez

CELIA R. RODRIGUEZ COURAGEOUSLY WALKED INTO THE LOVING ARMS OF OUR LORD ON OCTOBER 24TH 2016, AFTER BATTLING A LENGHTY CANCER DIAGNOSIS. HER LOVING FAMILY WAS BY HER SIDE PROVIDING SUPPORT , COMFORT AND CARE THRU OUT HER ILLNESS. NEVER LOSING FAITH , CELIA WAS A DEVOUT CATHOLIC AND PARISH MEMBER OF BLESSED SACRAMENT PARISH - WHILE PART OF THE CONGERATION , SHE PARTCIPATED IN V.S.P. , CATECHISM ,WAS A LECTOR AND ALSO A MEMBER OF THE ALTAR SOCIETY.

MRS. RODRIGUEZ WAS A ICON IN MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE PROTECTION OF CIVIL RIGHTS. HER PASSIONS REMAIN TRUE AND CLOSE TO HER HEART AS SHE SPEARHEADED MANY MOVEMENTS THAT MADE SAN ANTONIO THE CULTURAL WONDER IT IS.

PARTICIPATING IN “ THE LINDA SOCIAL CLUB” , MRS RODRIGUEZ FOUGHT ALONGSIDE WITH CITY LEADERS FOR A BETTER TOMMORROW .

AS A” DOCENT TO CTRC” – ( CANCER THERAPY & RESEARCH CENTER ) , ADVOCACY WAS #1 ON HER LIST AND SHE FOUGHT FOR RESEARCH AND PLANNED EVENT GALAS THAT WOULD ALLOW FUNDING FOR TREATMENT AND FUTURE STUDIES TO END AND WIPE OUT CANCER FOR GOOD.

AS A DOCENT AND FRIEND TO THE MCNAY MUSEUM , SHE CHAMPIONED FOR THE IMPORTANCE FOR CULTURAL ARTS AND THE EXPOSURE OF EXHIBTS TO THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS WITHOUT COST TO FAMILIES WITH SOCIAL ECONOMICAL LIMITATIONS, BELIVING THE BEAUTY AND GIFT OF ART BELONGED TO ALL.

HER FAITH FILLED HEART KNEW NO BOUNDARIES….. GIVING ITSELF TO SERVITUDE WITH MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT FED THE IMPOVERISHED , SICK AND HOMELESS, FURTHERMORE WORKING WITH MANY PARISHES AND EVENTUALLY BECOMING MEMBERS OF THE FOLLOWING ALTAR SOCIETYS,

ST. JOHNS ALTAR SOCIETY, ST ANTHONY OF PADUA PLACE, NUESTRA SENORA DE GUADALUPE CHURCH , MEMBER OF THE BASILICA OF THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE LITTLE FLOWER, MEMBER OF THE SHONSTATT CATHOLIC FAMILIES, FRIEND OF THE OBLATE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY AND OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE AT THE GOTTO, MEMBER OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY.

HAVING MET THE LOVE OF HER LIFE IN 1946 – MR. CELEDONIO RODRIGUEZ , AT FORT SAM HOUSTON ARMY BASE WHERE SHE WORKED AS A NURSE, CELIA LATER MARRIED HER SWEETHEART ON MAY 26, 1948 AT IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY- ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AND SPANNED A BEAUTIFUL MARRIAGE LASTING 53 YEARS BEFORE HIS PASSING IN 2001.

MRS. CELIA R. RODRIGUEZ IS SURVIVED BY HER LOVING AND BELOVED DAUGHTER DR. NANCY RODRIGUEZ- BOTELLO AND ADORING SON IN LAW ADAM BOTELLO SR. SHE LEAVES BEHIND 1 GRANDCHILD – SOIEL MARIE RODRIGUEZ , 2 GREATCHILDREN – AMBER NICOLE & , MIGUEL CRISTOBAL CEPEDA , 75 NIECES AND NEPHEWS, 31 GREAT NIECES AND GREAT NEPHEWS AND MANY ADORING GODCHILDREN .

CELIA WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED FOR HER ZEST FOR LIFE, LOVING TO TRAVEL, DANCE, PARTICIPATING IN AEROBICS. WATCHING MOVIES, AND ATTENDING FAMILY GATHERINGS. SHE WAS A AVID READER , ANTIQUE COLLECTOR, AND ENJOYED PLAYING CANASTA.

HER GREATEST JOY WAS HER FAMILY, THE HAPPINESS FOUND IN UNITY BY ALL HER NIECES AND NEPHEWS. DEEPLY ROOTED IN FAMILY VALUES SHE HAS SET THE FOOTPRINT OF FAMILY TOGETHERNESS AND LOYALTY. SHE WILL BE TRULY MISSED AS SHE WAS THE MATRIARCH OF THE FAMILY. HER LEGACY TO SERVE GOD , FAMILY & COMMUNITY WILL LIVE IN HER FAMILYS HEART ALWAYS.

THE RODRIGUEZ- BOTELLO FAMILY WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND THEIR SINCERE THANKS AND GRATITUDE FOR THEIR COMPASSIONATE CARE TO WELLMED , DR GREENFIELD, THE NURSES, THE CLERGY AND STAFF AT GENTIVA.

SPECIAL GRATITUDE TO FATHER MICHAEL O GORMAN FOR HIS UNWAVRING SUPPORT , COMFORT, & GUIDANCE.

A VISITATION WILL BE HELD AT SUNSET FUNERAL HOME ON AUSTIN HIGHWAY, TUESDAY – NOV 1 2016, @ 6PM IN THE EVENING, WITH A ROSARY RECITED PROMPTLY AT 7:15 PM – 9PM .

THE FUNERAL MASS WILL BE HELD ON NOV 2 , 2016 AT SUNSET MEMORIAL PARK AT AUSTIN HIGHWAY IN THE GRAND CHAPEL AT 12:00 NOON , PROCEEDING TO IMMEDIATE INTOMBMENT AT MAUSOLEUM 2 - WITH A GRAVESITE BLESSING SERVICE @ 1:05 PM.

THEN PLEASE JOIN US TO CELEBRATE CELIAS LIFE WITH A WARM RECEPTION AT SUNSET FUNERAL HOME – IN THE HOSPITALITY ROOM. FRIENDS AND FAMILY ARE WELCOME TO COME AND PARTAKE OF WARM AND JOYOUS MEMORIES OF OUR BELOVED CELIA . FOOD , DESERTS AND BEVERAGES WILL BE SERVED.

RECEPTION BEGINNING AT 1:20 PM

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.