Guadalupe (Lupe) V. Rodriguez

Our community sadly lost a pillar on Monday, August 24, 2020, when Mr. Guadalupe V. Rodriguez, favorably known as Lupe, passed away from dementia at 92 years of age.  Born in Morelos, Coahuila, Mexico on September 7, 1927, he was a very humble man whose contributions to the lives of many in and around our community includes the preservation and construction of memorial works of art in granite, marble and bronze.

He was born to a family of seven children in Morelos, Coahuila, Mexico. The family was desperately poor, so as children, Lupe and a brother were sent to work on a ranch hours away. The boys spent their days herding goats and cattle, seeing no one and making it back home maybe once a month. There was little time for school.

Lupe was determined to get to the U.S.  On his 17th birthday Lupe caught a bus out of Eagle Pass, TX and ended up at the home of his older second cousin, Louis Rodriguez. The bus ticket had taken all the money Lupe had. He started working part-time with his second cousins Louis and James Rodriguez to learn the trade of memorials.

Lupe stayed working until he enlisted into the Korean War.  He proudly served in the US Army earning the rank of Sergeant and learned how to speak English.  He was assigned to a combat engineers' unit just behind the front lines in Korea. Lupe also used his typing skills, which he had learned at Rodriguez Bros., to be a general's aide. Upon his return from the Korean War he earned his U.S. citizenship and graduated from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio earning a Bachelor’s in Business Administration degree.

Lupe and his family owned business, Rodriguez Brothers Memorials, have influenced the headstone memorial industry for a century.  Much of his craftsmanship includes singular headstones to family estate memorials in San Antonio, South Texas and North Texas. 

His most notable memorial workmanship in our community includes work on: the Lions Field Lions Club of San Antonio lion statue, VFW memorials, St. Anthony statue now in front of the San Fernando Cathedral as well as work inside San Fernando Cathedral, Discalced Carmelites Convent of San Antonio, St. George Maronite Catholic Church, San Francesco Di Paola Church, Jewish Congregation Synagogue projects, and several Carrara Marble Statues in San Antonio including the Benito Juarez Statue in Market Square and the Eagle Statue located in front of City Hall. Along with Business and Government buildings throughout the State, and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower.

He met the love of his life, Cristina (“Chris”) Rodriguez, in front of San Fernando Cathedral during Fiesta in 1957.  He courted her for 10 years until she finally said “Yes”.  That is when he threw away his lucky rabbit’s foot he kept in his pocket and said he no longer needed it.  They were happily married on June 3, 1967 in San Antonio, Texas.

In 1983, Lupe was blessed by shaking hands with Pope John Paul in Rome, Italy while attending an audience.  His words to the Pope were “Saludes de Mexico”. Lupe continued having many contributions to the Archdiocese of San Antonio throughout the years.  He also was a proud member of the Westside Lions Club.

Lupe is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mrs. Cristina Rodriguez, their daughter; Patricia Rodriguez, along with her husband (Jesse) and children – Andres, Elyssa and Marcos Rivera. He is also survived by his sister – Celina Rodriguez and several nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

His legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone he interacted with as well as those he reached but never met.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Public Visitation and Viewing will be Monday August 31, 2020

from 12:00pm – 2:00pm.

The Angelus Funeral Home

1119 N. St. Mary’s Street San Antonio, TX

The Rosary will be recited at Angelus Funeral Home

1119 N. St. Mary’s Street San Antonio, TX

beginning at 5:00pm on Monday August 31, 2020.

We will be sharing the rosary via zoom.  Please use this link: www.tinyurl.com/luperodriguez

Holy Mass at 10:00am Tuesday, September 01, 2020 at

St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church

1314 Fair Avenue, San Antonio, TX. 

A private service will be held at San Fernando Cemetery #2