On the morning of August 14, 2024, our beloved mother and grandmother Maria De Jesus Rodriguez passed away peacefully. She was 87 years old.

Maria, otherwise known as Mamá, Wela and Welita Chita, was married to the love of her life Celso Rodriguez Torres for 70 years. Originally from Múzquiz Coahuila, she brought 9 children to the states in 1971 and started their new life in San Antonio, Texas. They shared a beautiful family home that hosted every holiday, family gathering, and family dinner that welcomed every generation of child, grandchild, and great grand child through its doors every day. There is no better place than Welo and Wela's house. Upon entering this family home, you might've greeted Wela watching a telenovela, or you might've walked through to the kitchen where she'd be making her famous fresh homemade tortillas for lunch, or having sweet bread con su café ready to offer you some. Everyone that ever walked into that house was welcomed and was fed a home cooked meal, and Wela made sure of that. For Maria, family was always her first and most important priority. Throughout her life, she would go on to crochet a baby blanket for every one of her grandkids, there are 37 of us. If she could have, she would've done the same for her 58 great grandkids and 8 great, great grandkids.

Maria leaves behind her husband Celso Rodriguez Torres, son Rogelio Rodriguez + and wife Maria Luisa Rodriguez, daughter Martha Cadena and Jorge Cadena-husband, son Gerardo Rodriguez and Esperanza Rodriguez-wife, daughter Marisela Guerrero and Arnoldo Guerrero- husband, daughter Lourdes Mendez and Benny Mendez- husband, daughter Magdalena Ramirez and Robert Ramirez- husband, son Celso Rodriguez Jr. and Juanita Rodriguez- wife, son Linos Rodriguez and Consuelo Rodriguez- wife, Reyes Rodriguez and Elizabeth Rodriguez- wife, as well as her 37 grand children, 58 great grandchildren, and 8 great great grandchildren.