Leonor Salinas de Rodriguez

LEONOR SALINAS DE RODRIGUEZ, passed away after a short hospital stay on January 30, 2024. Leonor was born on June 23, 1946, to her parents Placido Salinas Solis and Maria Peña Terrazas, that had migrated to Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua from Casas Grandes, Chihuahua. Growing up in Juarez, Mexico, Leonor Salinas at the age of 12, met her future husband Agustin Rodriguez, as they were neighbors. Agustin had a distinct whistle to get Leonor’s attention, so they would meet, such that by the age of 18, Leonor and Agustin moved together to Oxnard, California.

On January 2, 1965, Leonor married Agustin Rodriguez at the Santa Rosa Church in San Fernando, California surrounded by their extended family. Agustin and Leonor Rodriguez welcomed their first child, Norma Rodriguez (“Ortiz”) in Oxnard. A year later, Agustin and Leonor welcomed son, Augustine Rodriguez, born in Ventura, California. While still living in California, Agustin and Leonor welcomed daughter, Estela Rodriguez (“Cordero”), in Oxnard. Leonor’s change in health returned them to the drier climate in El Paso, Texas. With significant amounts of extended family in El Paso and Juarez, Leonor and Agustin settled in Sunland Park, New Mexico in 1973. There Leonor and Agustin welcomed their third daughter Lorena Rodriguez (“Fuentes”), and their second son Raul Rodriguez.

Leonor with her childhood sweetheart, Agustin enjoyed their life together, sharing their passion for music and dancing and always having a good time. Often, you would see them, laughing and enjoying life, while they danced to Los Tigeres Del Norte during New Year’s Eve parties, or hosting parties for their many friends and family. Leonor especially enjoyed spending time in Juarez, where she was sure to stop just past the bridge at her favorite location to buy her “numeros” for the lottery, then going to visit family. When she was not visiting family, she was always ready to go to any casino, in Las Vegas, Albuquerque, or Sunland Park.

Leonor was a lifelong homemaker that enjoyed cooking and was always there for her children and grandchildren. For Easter she loved cooking “capirotada” and always started collecting egg shells early in the year so that she would have plenty of eggs to color and fill with confetti for her grandchildren to crack on each other. She was not only a wonderful mother to her own children, but she helped raise some of her nieces too, which she always welcomed with open arms. Leonor dedicated her life to raising her five children and later enjoyed spending time with her many grandchildren, all of whom will forever love, remember and miss her.

Visitation for Leonor will be held Thursday, February 15, 2024 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm with Rosary at 7:00 pm at Martin Funeral Home West, 128 N. Resler Dr., El Paso, TX 79912. Funeral Mass will be held Friday, February 16, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at San Martin de Porres Catholic Church, 1885 McNutt Rd., Sunland Park, NM 88063. Pallbearers: grandchildren: Jesse Ortiz, Nicholas Rodriguez, Enrique Rodriguez, Juan Cordero, Jr., Andrew Cordero and Jarod Fuentes. Graveside Service will follow at 11:45 am at Memory Gardens of the Valley Cemetery. Gathering reception at Our Lady of Refuge Church Hall 1320 Mercantil Ave, La Unión, NM 88021.