Obituary

Imelda Gonzalez Rodriguez, 82, of Avondale, Arizona passed away unexpectedly after a three-week battle with Coronavirus on Saturday, December 19, 2020 at Banner Estrella Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona.

Imelda was the youngest daughter of seven children, born on April 10, 1938 and raised in Los Huesos, a small village in Northeast Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico. This is where she met and fell in love with her husband, Raul Rivera Rodriguez. They were married in a small ceremony in 1957 and settled in Los Huesos with Raul’s parents. In 1967, Raul’s employer helped them emigrate with their four children to Waddell, Arizona, United States; however, her dream of becoming a naturalized citizen was not fulfilled until the age of eighty.

Raul’s agricultural career migrated them to Gilroy, California for several summers and around Arizona’s West Valley during which Imelda bore seven additional children. Imelda was a devout Catholic and instilled her faith within her children. She was known as “Ma” to her ten children, thirty grandchildren, thirty-one great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren which was rightfully reflected by her inherent maternal qualities. Ma was a headstrong and solicitous woman, often expressing her love through constructive criticism and authentic Mexican dishes. The enticing aroma of tortilla dough rising on a cast iron griddle bonded our family, and shaped her home as our heart and soul.

She was proud of her children who all received degrees in their chosen professions or grew up to become successful entrepreneurs. Imelda was predeceased by her son Raul (1968), her daughter Libby Perez (2011), and her husband Raul (2013).

She is survived by her brother Roberto Gonzalez, her sister Engracia Cardenas, her nine children, Cel Rodriguez (Minerva), Grace Perez (Antonio), Rosa Hernandez (Jose), Raul Rodriguez (Delma), Rene Rodriguez (Monica), Eddie Rodriguez (Priscilla), Gloria Flores (Don), Jaime Rodriguez (Elizabeth), and Hector Rodriguez (Dellisia Aguilar).

A private memorial service will be held at Saint Henry’s Roman Catholic Church on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 10 am. Friends and family are welcome to the socially distanced 12 pm interment at the Avondale Goodyear Farms Historic Cemetery (3900 N Santa Fe Trail Avondale, AZ 85392). Flowers can be sent to Thompson Funeral Chapel (926 S. Litchfield Rd. Goodyear, AZ, 85338).