Rebecca Rodriguez

Rebecca Martinez Rodriguez, 86, of Elgin, died at 6:21 pm, Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at the St. Christopher House in Austin, Texas, surrounded by family and friends. She was born June 26, 1931 in Elgin, Texas, to Cecilio and Maria Guadalupe Montemayor Martinez. She married Margarito Rodriguez on June 20, 1953 in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Elgin and he preceded her in death on May 26, 1996.

Surviving are her five children: Margarito Rodriguez, Jr and partner Don of Austin; Richard Rodriguez and wife Doris of Elgin; Gloria Rodriguez and partner Lindsey of Austin; Pauline Saragosa and husband David of Elgin; and Danny Rodriguez and wife Marilyn of Alvin; eight grandchildren (Matthew and wife Elena, Stephen and wife Yvette, Tiffany, Luke, Mark, Zack, Jack, and Rebecca), and two great-grandchildren (Grant and Jace).

Rebecca was a lifelong resident of Elgin, Texas.  Her early years were spent at the Elgin Brickyard where she grew up. In the early 50’s, a young man from McQueeney, Texas visited some friends at the Elgin Brickyard and caught Rebecca’s eye.  She knew immediately that he was “the one”. They married in June 1953 and lived at the Elgin Brickyard for approximately six years before moving to Elgin

Rebecca was a stay-at-home mom while her children were young, then got her first job at the Austin State School, along with her sister Mary Helen,  She retired in 1989, taking with her many memories and special friendships made during that time of her life.

Rebecca’s greatest joy was her husband, Maco, and their little family of five.  Family get-togethers with hers and Maco’s siblings and their families were a regular occurrence that included trips to the coast, San Juan, Lake Austin, Bastrop State Park, and Seguin.  Great food, loving fellowship, and lots of fun was always in abundance, but the most important thing to Rebecca was the togetherness and love that made the families so close, a closeness that prevails to this day.

Once Rebecca reached retirement age, she and Maco had more time to travel with their siblings to Coushatta, Lake Charles, and even occasionally to Las Vegas!  They weren’t big spenders and shared “everything” so the inexpensive travel packages these places offered gave them all a chance to get away and just enjoy one another!  They always had a great time together and always came back with a new story or two to tell!

Rebecca was a devout Catholic who attended daily mass regularly.  She prayed the rosary three times a day and her family knew they were blanketed in prayer.  Out of love for Jesus and His Blessed Mother, she served as a Guadalupana, putting in countless hours in the kitchen and just enjoying the fellowship and camaraderie of other women so like herself; she served with the Altar Society who took care of the purificator and other linens used during Holy Communion; she served as a Eucharistic Minister, taking communion to shut-ins and nursing home residents; and she helped keep the church clean on a regular basis for many years. She did all of these things with her usual quiet humility and unwavering devotion.

In the final two months before her passing from this life to the next, she spent a great deal of time in the Heart Hospital in Austin, HealthSouth Rehab in Round Rock, and her final days at St. Christopher House in Austin.  Rebecca’s family would like to thank the staff of these amazing places for their care, consideration, compassion, and patience during her stay with them, and especially for allowing family members to stay with her around the clock!  There were many great moments, but the continuous food and warm cookies straight from the oven at Christopher House … Christmas Dinner as a family in the cafeteria at Health South … and the tenderness and care extended by the staff at the Heart Hospital … will all be remembered fondly.  What a gift and a treasure!  Her passing was quiet and gentle as she said goodbye to this world … and entered into her eternal rest in Christ Jesus.  She will be missed … but she is home!

A Visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 P.M. Friday, January 5, 2018, Providence-Jones Family Funeral Home with the Recitation of the Holy Rosary beginning  at 7:00 P.M. Celebration of Mass Christian Burial will be held 10:00 A.M. Saturday, January 6, 2018 Sacred Heart Catholic Church,Father George Joseph officiating.  Interment to follow at Elgin Latin Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Elgin Building Fund in her name