Mary Laura Kraft-Rodriguez

Mary Laura Kraft-Rodriguez, loving Mom, Granny & Great-Granny joined the angels in heaven on October 27, 2016. She was born on July 7, 1932 in Camden New Jersey. Mary was a member of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church and a member of the Altar Society. Although Mary was born on July 7th she enjoyed celebrating her birthday on one of her favorite holidays, which was July 4th. Another favorite holiday of Mary’s was Christmas, she always attended Midnight Mass with her family which was the beginning of her Christmas celebration. Mary always made sacrifices for her children, making sure that they had everything that they needed. Two of her most favorite people in the world were her sons-in-law, Mike and Larry. These two men could do absolutely no wrong. One of her biggest joys in life was caring for her children and grandchildren. She thought of her grandchildren as angels even when they started a fire in her microwave, cut each others hair and got into her make up. She loved cooking for her family and especially loved our Sunday breakfasts after church. She was very excited when she received her Sacraments so that she could receive Communion with her family. Every Sunday she would take several empty purses to church to reserve “her” pew for her family. Over the years she had several jobs, first she was a farmer/rancher’s wife, manager for a clothing store, secretary for an upholstery shop and even moonlighted as a bartender, sometimes she even worked three jobs at once. After her retirement in the 80’s she would volunteer for church functions and help her daughters with work projects. She enjoyed making wreaths for the holidays and flower arrangements for her daughters at the cemetery, she even made personalized rosaries for her children and grandchildren. Mary loved dove hunting, fishing trips to the coast, and taking rides downtown with her beer & ice. She also loved to go to parties & stay out late. At least once a year we took a family trip to the coast and she always had to go fishing. When we got home she would always have a huge fish fry for everyone. Mary taught all of her children to be strong individuals always keep their promises and treat people with respect. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Ulysses S. Gibbs & Pearl R. Schaefer, her brothers, Norvill & George Gibbs, her daughters, Dorothy & Rebecca Kraft & her husbands, Reno Kraft & Frank Rodriguez. She is survived by her six children: Pearl Frances Paveglio her husband Mike and their three children: Keith & Bea (Sabrina & Neil), Kimberly & Jon (Patrick, Pamela, Matthew, Giana, Michael, & Benjamin), Klint & Tanya; Shirley Lee Kraft; Rachel Margie Grohman & her husband Larry and their four children: Tabitha & James (James & Jacob), Travis, Troy, Tammy Jo; Ranie Phyllis Kraft and Ricardo Castillo, and her son: Joshua; Renie Connie Littlefield and her three children: Brandon & Marisa (Caylee), Brittany & Jeremy (Eliana), Brett; Reno John Kraft and his daughters Meygan and Amber. Visitation will be held at Roy Akers Funeral Home from 5-9 pm on Friday, November 4, 2016, with a Rosary at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue on Saturday November 5, 2016 at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 3107 N. St. Mary’s Street followed by Funeral Mass at 11 am. Interment will follow at St. Jerome Catholic Cemetery, 7955 Real Road, San Antonio, Texas.