Juanita Rodriguez Madrid

Our mother, Juanita was born April 15th, 1952 in Eagle Pass, Texas to parents Fernando and Dominga Rodriguez. As a family they traveled all throughout the United States following the fruit harvests later to settle in Sunnyvale, CA which at the time was home to cherry orchards and the Libby’s Cannery. Juanita was both beautiful and intelligent with ambitions that took her across the globe. In high school, after having become trilingual, fluent in English, Spanish, and French, Juanita studied for a semester abroad in France as a foreign exchange student. Also as a teen, she enjoyed taking part in the lives of her two younger sisters Maricela and Dora Alicia, and driving around her lime green 1970 Plymouth Barracuda.

She married Armando Madrid in 1971 and had 4 children, two boys and two girls- Armando Javier, Eduardo Rodriguez, Cynthia Grace, and Sylvia Jasmine. While raising her children, Juanita also lead the technical publications editing division at Lockheed Missiles & Space Company in Sunnyvale, CA.

After working 17 years at Lockheed Missiles & Space, Juanita took on a new career path and set an outstanding example for her children. In 1995, she earned an Associate's Degree (w/Honors) in Paralegal Studies and minor in Art History from De Anza College in Cupertino, CA which lead to being recruited by the intellectual property law firm, Fenwick & West.

Most rewarding for Juanita was home decorating, shopping and her art of charcoal drawing and oil painting. Her family was often featured as subjects. She also enjoyed recreating impressionistic works such as Renior and various biblical paintings but her most dear were the Renaissance artists Michelangeo, Raphael, Da Vinci and her rendition of the The Last Supper.

Later in life her positive energy struck when visiting local casinos. Seeming to always hit jackpots she said you have to play at “max bet”. This is also the way Juanita lived her life, giving her full attention to those she loved much like her mother. And much like her father, our mother always made time for others. Sharing stories and imparting her ever extending knowledge. She made friends everywhere she went and all those that spent time with her felt happier.

Juanita will forever live on in the hearts of her family, friends and especially in the hearts of her four children: Armando Javier, Eduardo Rodriguez, Cynthia Grace, and Sylvia Jasmine and two grandchildren: Marissa Rose and Benjamin Issaiah.

We will think of you every day and live our lives in the love and joy you created!