Hilda Rose Rodriguez

WATERBURY - Mrs. Hilda Rose Rodriguez, age 89, of Waterbury, passed away peacefully Sunday, March 30, 2014 at her home surrounded by her loving family after an extended illness. She was the widow of Libertad Rodriguez.

Mrs. Rodriguez was born November 8, 1924 in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico, the daughter of the late Luis and Juanita Rivera. She was educated in Puerto Rico before moving to the United States where she dedicated her life to raising her family. Hilda was known as the "neighborhood mother" because she would tend to not only her children's needs but to many of their friends and neighbors as well. She would always make herself available to her children and grandchildren making them her first priority and putting her own needs aside to make sure they had everything they needed. She was an avid reader, enjoyed sewing, politics, and especially enjoyed cooking. She was a parishioner of Saint Margaret's Church and supported many charitable organizations including Saint Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Saint Margaret's Church of Scotland, the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the Archdiocese of Hartford and was a long time member of the Association of Marian Helpers of the Immaculate Conception.

Among her survivors are her children; Luis and Ernestina Rodriguez of Eufaula, AL. Milton and Michelle Rodriguez of Cheshire, Miguel and Sam Rodriguez of Waterbury, William Rodriguez of Waterbury, Bruce and Elsa (Rodriguez) Dorais of Plymouth, CT; Andrew and Evelyn (Rodriguez) Rakich of Waterbury, Migdalia (Rodriguez) Gonzalez of Waterbury, Ali (Rodriguez) Greene of Waterbury, and Milsa Rodriguez and her life partner Sam D'Amelio of Watertown, her daughter in-law Carolyn Rodriguez, and her sister Carmen de Gaud of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. She is also survived by her grandchildren Mary Rodriguez, Charles Rodriguez, Luis Rodriguez Jr., Raquel (Rodriguez) Feduzi, Kristine Velez, Jason Rodriguez, Nathan Rodriguez, Lexi (Rodriguez) Wheeler, Jared Rodriguez, David Greene, Matthew Rakich, Julia Rodriguez, Tori Greene, and Gabrielle Rodriguez and also her great grandchildren, Tyler Santiago, Sophia Feduzi, Kamryn Santiago, Bryana Santiago, Stasha Feduzi, and Adriana Wheeler, as well as many nieces and nephews. Her son Robinson Rodriguez, grand daughter Zandra Rodriguez, her grandson Bryan Velez, her brother and two sisters predeceased her.

Funeral services for Mrs. Rodriguez will be held on Saturday, April 5th, 2014 at 11:00am at Saint Margaret's of Scotland Roman Catholic Church, 289 Willow Street, Waterbury, Ct. where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Those planning to attend are asked to meet directly at the church. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery Waterbury, CT. Relatives and friends may visit with Hilda's family on Friday evening from 5:00-8:00 PM at Eastside Memorial, "A Casey Family Funeral Home & Tribute Center" 1987 East Main St. Waterbury, CT. Memorial Donations in Hilda's Memory can be made to Saint Jude's Children's Research Hospital 262 Danny Thomas Place Memphis, TN 38105. To extend on-line expressions of sympathy to the family or for additional information, kindly visit the funeral home website at: www.eastsidememorial.com