Antonia Rodrigo Obituary

Name: Visitation for Antonia Rodrigo
Start: 2023-04-04T19:00:00.000Z
End: 2023-04-04T23:00:00.000Z
Location: John Vincent Scalia Home for Funerals, Inc.

Great-Grandmother, Longtime Islander With a Sweet Disposition Antonia (Rouco) Rodrigo, 97, beloved wife of the late Frank Rodrigo, passed away on Monday, March 27th, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Placetas, Cuba, she was the beloved daughter of the late Antonio and Consuelo (Meras) Rouco. Antonia grew up in Havana, Cuba and came to the United States in 1946 at the end of WWII at the age of 21. She lived with her aunt until she married in 1950 and settled on Staten Island with the love of her life Frank to raise their three children. Antonia was known for her cooking and loved to host parties, family gatherings and barbecues in her backyard. She was an expert seamstress sewing everything from upholstery to Barbie doll clothes. She and her husband Frank enjoyed frequent traveling near and far. She loved reading mystery novels, watching British TV, playing Bingo and trips to Atlantic City. With a sweet disposition, she was instantly liked by people she met along the way. She was at her happiest spending time with her family. After the death of her husband Frank in 2014, Antonia lived independently until recently when she moved to Massachusetts with her daughter Anita to be close to her grandchildren. Devoted mother of Anita Mrozinski and her husband John, Frank Rodrigo and the late Richard Rodrigo and his wife Ester. Cherished grandmother of Richard Rodrigo, Jr., Eric Rodrigo and his wife Victoria, Dawn Bono and her husband Jason, Thomas Rodrigo and Melissa Mrozinski, loving great grandmother of Sebastian, Teagan, Joey and Ford. Beloved sister and last of her eight siblings. Antonia also leaves many nieces, nephews, and friends. Visitation will be Tuesday, 3:00-7:00pm, at John Vincent Scalia Home, 28 Eltingville Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10312. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, at 10:00am, at Holy Child R.C. Church, 4747 Amboy Rd, Staten Island, NY 10312. Burial will follow at Moravian Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made in Antonia's name to the Cancer Research Institute. John Vincent Scalia Home for Funerals 28 Eltingville Blvd. Staten Island, NY 10312 718-356-6363

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Published by Staten Island Advance from Mar. 31 to Apr. 2, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Antonia Rodrigo

Sponsored by John Vincent Scalia Home for Funerals, Inc..

3 Entries

Michael Iorio

April 1, 2023

The Rodrigo family were wonderful neighbors. They generously shared their dinners, barbecues, and swimming pool with the youngsters in the neighborhood. Their oldest child, Ricky, was a close friend of mine growing up, and we enjoyed many family oriented events, like we belonged there. Your mom made the best paella on Staten Island. Our sincere condolences to Anita and Frankie and all. Thank you for sharing your family with us during those early years...

Laura Truscelli

April 1, 2023

Our deepest condolences for your loss. Your mom was such a lovely person.

Best regards, your old neighbor from City Blvd.
James & Laura Truscelli

María Elena(Mary Ellen) Cruz

March 31, 2023

I will always remember Antonia as Tia(aunt) Cusa. I have no idea where that nickname originated but all our family called her Cusa. It is a given that she was a wonderful human being, a beautiful and charming woman, a fabulous cook and seamstress, a master with a crochet hook and a homemaker extraordinaire. She and her husband Tio(Uncle) Frank were all about family and those of us who were lucky enough to be part of their family were richly rewarded. Every 4th of July for many years they hosted an enormous party for family and friends. To us Brooklyn kids going to the "countryside" of Eltingville for a barbecue party complete with tons of food, a big pool, woods(Woods of Arden was actually woods in those days) and an evening trip to the beach in Annadale to shoot off fireworks. Only as an adult did I understand the effort and cost of hosting such a huge gathering. I am glad that I thanked her and Tio Frank many times because those parties were the highlight of many a year for me. Among Tia Cusa´s has most charming attributes was her accent when speaking English which sounded just like my father´s and Rickey Ricardo´s, of "I Love Lucy" fame. Cusa like many of her generation were keepers; of family, of loyalty, of faith and generosity of spirit. They were the "real deal". My bridal shower in 1984, was graced both by a gorgeous empanada she baked and a hand crocheted afghan she made for me. Like Tia Cusa, that afghan endured, currently warming my father who is nearly 99 years old. So Tia, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the love and joy you brought to my life and to our family. I wish you Godspeed. Vaya con Dios querida Tía y que descanse en paz junto a sus padres, hermanas/os, marido y su hijo Rickey en la Gloria que se merece. Seguirá en mi, María Elena(Mary Ellen) y Pepe Cruz, Carlos Mairal, Victoria y Lucas Mairal-Cruz

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