Angelita "Lucy" Rodriguez

November 20, 1953 – October 4, 2026

Angelita “Lucy” Rodriguez, 72, passed away on October 4, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family.

Lucy was born Angelita Santiago Garrastegui on November 20, 1953, in Yauco, Puerto Rico, to Ramón Santiago and Elena Garrastegui. Raised in a hardworking farming family, she grew up with a deep understanding of sacrifice, perseverance, faith, and the importance of caring for family—values she carried throughout her life.

On August 22, 1981, Lucy married Dean R. Rodriguez, U.S. Navy Retired, in Yauco, Puerto Rico, in a ceremony officiated by her Baptist pastor, Pastor Gonzalez. As a Navy wife, Lucy built a life centered around family while embracing the many places and experiences that came with military life.

Above all, Lucy was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was known for putting others before herself and for helping anyone who crossed her path whenever she could. She was generous, protective, faithful, feisty, funny, stubborn, outspoken, and full of life. Lucy was never shy. She could fill a room with laughter, carried herself with confidence, and was always proud of who she was, where she came from, and all she had accomplished.

Lucy loved cooking and sharing food with the people she loved. She enjoyed music, traveling, holidays, family traditions, flowers, nature, the beach, conversations with friends, and finding a good seafood restaurant. She had a special gift for bringing life and color into everything she touched.

Her Puerto Rican heritage remained an important part of who she was, and the warmth, resilience, hospitality, faith, and pride of her upbringing stayed with her throughout her life.

Lucy was especially proud of her growing family. Her oldest grandson, Daniel, gave her the name that would become one of her most cherished titles when, at two years old, he began calling her “Mamma.” From then on, she was Mamma to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Lucy is survived by her beloved husband, Dean R. Rodriguez; her children, Yadira Estrada (Quiñones) and her husband, Byron Estrada; Jaime Quiñones and his wife, Michelle Y. Quiñones; Dean R. Rodriguez Jr.; and Lucy H. Everett (Rodriguez) and her husband, Caleb Everett.

She is also survived by her grandchildren, Daniel S. McIntyre and his wife, Michelle McIntyre; Angelita M. Quiñones; Mayra J. Heitman and her husband, Lucas Heitman; Gabriela Y. Estrada and her fiancé, Jose Hermosillo; Emilia B. Estrada; William O’Brien; Eden Rose Rodriguez; Sebastian A. Quiñones; Isaiah Everett; and Skylar Everett.

Her great-grandchildren are Kaleb A. McIntyre, Greyson C. McIntyre, Braden J. Heitman, and Olive G. Heitman.

Lucy is further survived by her brother, Angel Santiago, and his wife, Zoraida; their sons, Angel and Manuel; as well as various surviving siblings, nieces, nephews, extended family members, and loved ones throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

She is also survived by her beloved miniature schnauzer, Magnus, who was very much a part of her family and daily life.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ramón Santiago and Elena Garrastegui; her sister, Carmen Rueda; and several other older and younger siblings.

In October 2019, Lucy was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. She underwent extensive treatment at Mayo Clinic, including chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant in February 2020. For nearly seven years, she faced the disease with remarkable courage, determination, and faith. While that journey became an important chapter of her life, it never defined who she was.

Lucy’s life was defined by her love for her family, her faith, her generosity, her Puerto Rican roots, her pride, her laughter, and the countless ways she cared for others.

Her legacy will live on in the family she loved so deeply, in the traditions she helped create, in meals shared around a table, in memories of Puerto Rico, in the laughter she brought into every room, and in every generation that will forever know her simply as Mamma.

Visitation will be held at Riverside Event Pavilion, 1373 Memorial Park Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32205, on October 11, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. A Celebration of Life will follow at the same location.

 A Committal Service will be held at Riverside Memorial Park, 7242 Normandy Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32205, on October 11, 2026, at 3:00 pm.