On January 8, 2023, Ángela Rodríguez, passed away peacefully at her caregiving home, Bridgewater at La Cholla. At the time of her passing, Ángela was 96 and had spent the past four years courageously battling Limbic Encephalitis (sometimes referred to as Brain on Fire).
Ángela was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, the oldest of three, from parents Valeriano Vázquez Rolón from Cayey, Puerto Rico and Asunción Pagán Alvelo from Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico. Her siblings, Iris Violeta Orengo and Angel María Vázquez Pagán preceded their older sister. Ángela was raised in Puerto Rico during the depression. She spent some years living in Florida and lived in Oro Valley, Arizona for the past 16 years. Ángela was a homemaker for her husband, daughters and extended family. She went against the will of many family members, including her own husband, to insist her daughters be educated in parochial schools and follow the Catholic religion. To this day, they both are very faithful to their beliefs. Ángela loved to cook for her family who often picked her up and brought her to their homes to partake in her incredible Puerto Rican culinary specialties. One of her most cherished meals was her savory rice with red kidney bean dish. She graduated from High School with a secretarial diploma and managed the household finances her whole life.
Ángela was a care giver for several foster children at her home. In addition, she raised Vanessa, Lisa and Ismael Salvá as if they were her own. She cared for them throughout their complete K-12 education years and beyond. They always loved and treated Ángela as their second mother. Ángela was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, and was sweetly known as “Momy”.
Angela Rodríguez, whose maiden name was Ángela Vázquez Pagán, is survived by her daughters Marylin García and Ivette Damaris Perez, her son-in-law, Thomas Garcia, five grandchildren (Julio Rodríguez, Thomas Anthony Garcia, Mayra Guccio, Sean Perez and Angela Smith) and eight great grandchildren (Emma, Adrian, Lia, Anthony, Maliya, Adelyn, Aria and Levi). Ángela is greeted in heaven by her loving husband of 64 years Agustín Rodríguez and son-in-law, Lou Perez.
A celebration of life will be celebrated at St. Mark The Evangelist Catholic Church, 2727 W. Tangerine Road, Oro Valley, AZ on Thursday, January 12, 2023 with a Holy Rosary at 10:00 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be observed by the immediate family at Holy Hope Cemetery at 3555 N Oracle Road, Tucson AZ, 85705.