Araceli Grimaldo

In Loving Memory of Araceli Rodriguez-Grimaldo
April 6, 1972 – April 14, 2025
With hearts weighed heavy with sorrow and love, the family of Araceli Rodriguez-Grimaldo announces her passing on April 14, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas. Born on April 6, 1972, in Brownsville, Texas, to her devoted parents Antonio Rodriguez and Maria Martha Cabrera-Rodriguez, Araceli's life was a beautiful testimony to the enduring power of love, devotion, and compassion.
Araceli was a radiant soul whose legacy is one of selfless love, unwavering loyalty, and a deep, maternal warmth that touched the lives of everyone she encountered. She lived with purpose, moving through the world with a heart wide open to the joys and responsibilities of family. She believed wholeheartedly that love was best expressed through action-and she gave, gave, and gave some more.
Above all titles she held in this life, "Mother" was the one she cherished most deeply. Her daughter, Adaliz Bridgewater-her beloved "Bendi", which means "blessing" in Spanish-was her heart and soul, her compass and her joy. Everything Araceli did revolved around her daughter, and to watch the two of them together was to witness a love that transcended words. Adaliz was not just her daughter; she was her world. No moment, no gesture, no celebration was ever too small if it meant bringing happiness to her "Bendi."
Her devotion as a mother radiated beyond her own child. Araceli was a second mother to many-especially to her nieces and nephews, who knew they could always come to "Tía Araceli" for guidance, comfort, a hot meal, or simply a warm embrace. Her home was a sanctuary of affection and generosity, where every guest was fed, every celebration was decorated with love, and every child felt like they belonged.
She poured herself into caring for others, often putting their needs far before her own. A tireless provider and nurturer, Araceli believed no one should ever go without. "Where one eats, we all eat," she would often say with a smile, as she cooked abundant meals and delivered groceries to neighbors, friends, and elderly residents of her community. For her, food was love-and she expressed it with unmatched skill and perfection in the kitchen. A true culinary artist, Araceli was a perfectionist when it came to cooking, refusing to serve anything less than a labor of love.
Her generous spirit was matched only by her exuberance for life. She was a woman of joyful contradictions: deeply spiritual, yet always ready for a round of laughter and games. She loved decorating her home for every season and occasion-Christmas, Thanksgiving, Día de los Muertos, Valentine's Day, and especially her own birthday, which she famously celebrated all month long, proclaiming with playful pride, "My birthday is April 1st through April 30th!"
A lover of beauty and vibrance, Araceli had an eye for all things colorful and expressive. She adored flowers, makeup, jewelry, and festive decorations. She loved music-especially when played loud enough to dance to-and she found peace in the sound of the ocean waves at the beach. The sparkle of casino lights thrilled her; she was known for loving games of all kinds-from video games and fun family games to scratching off lottery tickets with hopeful anticipation.
Araceli was also a proud fan of her favorite teams-the Dallas Cowboys and Chivas soccer-celebrating their victories with as much spirit as she celebrated everything else in life. And no road trip was ever complete without a stop at Buc-ee's, which she loved not just for its snacks and souvenirs, but because it became part of the joy and ritual of family outings.
Though she had many interests, her faith remained a pillar of strength throughout her life. She was deeply devoted to God and held a special reverence for the Virgin of Guadalupe, whose image brought her comfort and spiritual grounding. Her faith was quiet but unshakeable, a foundation she passed on through her example of kindness, mercy, and humility.
Araceli valued authenticity and loyalty. She maintained lifelong friendships, most of them dating back to her childhood-rare and treasured relationships built on trust, laughter, and time. These friends knew her as someone who showed up, someone who remembered birthdays, brought food in times of need, and could always be counted on for both wisdom and warmth.
She is survived by her loving husband Sotero Grimaldo, whom she married on March 14, 1996-a union rooted in friendship, love, and shared commitment to family. Together, they built a home filled with memories, laughter, and unwavering support. She also leaves behind her treasured daughter Adaliz Bridgewater, who will carry her mother's spirit forward with grace and strength, just as Araceli raised her to do.
Araceli is also lovingly remembered by her siblings: Bertha Hines, Carmen Elizarraras, Maria Sulema Ruiz, Felipe Rafael Ruiz, Marisol Rodriguez, and Olga Mendoza-each of whom held a unique place in her heart.
She now rejoins in eternal peace her parents, Maria Martha Cabrera-Rodriguez and Antonio Rodriguez; her beloved siblings Gisela Rodriguez and Alvaro Rodriguez; her uncles Jose Palafox, Felipe Palafox, and Javier Palafox; her nephew Ronnal Hines; and her grandmothers Maria del Carmen Palafox and Manuela Cortez-all of whom she held dear and honored through stories, traditions, and acts of remembrance.
Though our hearts are heavy, we celebrate the life of a woman who gave endlessly, loved fiercely, and lived joyfully. Araceli Rodriguez-Grimaldo was more than a wife, mother, sister, and friend-she was the heart of her family, the light in her community, and a blessing to all who knew her.
In every flower that blooms, in every kitchen filled with love, in every burst of laughter at a family gathering, her spirit lives on.
"Where one eats, we all eat."
Let us honor her by living with that same open-hearted generosity and love.
A Visitation will be held at Azle and Lake Worth Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, from 5:00 - 8:00 PM. With a Funeral Mass beginning at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at Holy Name Catholic Church with Interment to follow at Azleland Cemetery and Memorial.
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