Mary Gutierrez Rodriguez

Mary Gutirrez Rodriguez was called home by our Lord on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, after 68 wonderful years of life, with her loving and devoted husband, Dr. Armand Rodriquez, right by her side. Mary was a beautiful, charming and engaging woman whose smile lit up any room. She was born in San Antonio, Texas on August 7, 1953 to Carlos Gutirrez and Aurora Eloisa Hartmann Gutirrez. Mary had a wonderful 1950s childhood, growing up at 117 Weymouth St. in a neighborhood filled with kids and across the street from San Pedro Park. She played in the park, enjoyed the swimming pool, and often visited the library nearby. She attended St. Anns Parochial School graduating in 1967, and then attended Incarnate Word High School graduating in 1971.While at Incarnate Word HS, Mary was active in Choir and truly enjoyed singing. It was during her senior year in high school that she met the love of her life, Armand Rodriguez, on a blind date. She then attended San Antonio College, with a focus on business and accounting courses. She learned responsibility and a great work-ethic from her parents. She started working early in life, first at La Feria Department store, where she worked in the Payroll Department, and then the Bridal Department. She then worked for many years for Pam and Lou Wood at Law Distributing. Mary and Armand were married on August 22, 1976 at St. Anns Church. They embarked on a life full of adventures and travel, while being highly dedicated to each other, their family, and charities. In the early 1980s, while her husband completed his anesthesiology residency training at Scott & White Clinic in Temple, Texas, Mary worked as a Medical Translator at the clinic. Mary moved back to San Antonio in 1982 when her husband started his anesthesiology private practice. She completed modeling classes and became a highly sought-after fashion, print, and TV model. Through her modeling experience working with charitable organizations, she became very involved in raising money for several charities in San Antonio, including: the American Heart Association, the Battered Womans Shelter, the University of Texas Health Breast Cancer Research, St. Peters and St. Josephs Home and many other charities.

Mary was a whiz at gathering fabulous prizes for the silent auctions and convincing friends to buy tables at gala events for these charity events. She particularly enjoyed volunteering as a model at the charity fashion shows. Mary was extremely devoted to her mother, giving in to her every whim. They had many adventures together. They were fabulous shopping and traveling partners, zooming off to Houston and Dallas in Marys Mercedes in search of unique fashion gowns for her gala charity events and sailing on the inaugural cruise of the Grand Princess in the Mediterranean during 9/11. As her mother grew older, Mary was the consummate caregiver, providing her mother with much tenderness, love, and care.

She was preceded in death by her father, Carlos Gutirrez, and her mother, Eloisa Hartmann Gutirrez. She is survived by her loving, affectionate and highly attentive husband of 45 years Dr. Armand Rodriguez, who made all her wishes come true, made her laugh, gave her tremendous joy, and never left her side during any hospitalization. She is also survived by her brother, Dr. Arthur Gutirrez Hartmann and his wife Marti Mendiola from Aurora, CO. Arthurs three children, Joshua Gutirrez (Springfield, MA), Ariana G. Lospinoso and her husband Maurice and their child, Reese, and Dr. Cristina Gutirrez (Los Angeles, CA). Marti two children, Claire Weaver and her Husband Garren Hogan (Austin, TX) and Laurel Weaver (New York, NY). Her sister Martha Yaghi and her husband Khaled Yaghi, and their three children Dr. Nasser Yaghi (Portland OR), Omar Yaghi (Boston, MA), and Dr. Alia Yaghi (San Antonio, TX). And her youngest sister, Laura Garza, and her daughter Amber Garza and her husband Brian McAnulty (Manor, TX). Marys greatest joy was her nieces and nephews and all of their accomplishments. Indeed, Mary served like a second mother to Amber Garza. Marys greatest love was her husband, Armand. They were an inseparable pair and had an amazing partnership. They loved to travel and visited four continents, many countries, and numerous cities together, often taking Marys Mom with them. Each trip generated many great stories, which with time became family folklore.

Mary and her family are extremely grateful to all of her physicians, in particular to her Cardiologist, Dr. Robert Schnitzler, and nurses at Methodist Hospital for their extraordinarily dedicated and compassionate care during her hospitalizations.

The family suggest that flowers and/or donations be made to: National Organization for Rare Disorders.

The Visitation will be held on Friday, February 11, 2022, from 6-7 PM followed by the Recitation of the Rosary at 7 PM at Porter Loring Mortuary North, 2102 N. Loop 1604 E, San Antonio, TX 78232. The Funeral Mass will be on Saturday, February 12, 2022, at 12 noon at Holy Spirit Catholic Church at 8134 Blanco Rd, San Antonio, TX 78216 followed by the interment at Mission Park Funeral Chapel and Cemetery Dominion at 1:30 PM at 20900 IH 10 W, San Antonio, TX 78257.