Marie Angelina Rodriguez

1927 - 2024

On a chilly Thursday afternoon in Visalia, Jan. 18, our Mom, Marie Angelina Rodriguez took her last breath at Kaweah Health Hospital and became heaven-bound. Middle daughter Anita Delgado was by her bedside when she passed. Her death occurred seven years to the day that our Dad, Luis Rodriguez passed away. She was 96 years old.

Mom was born in Snelling in Merced County, Aug. 2, 1927. She was the oldest of four siblings, Lupe Franco and twin sisters Virginia Franco and Teresa Franco. All three preceded her in death.

The Franco Family moved to Lindcove when she was a child. She attended Lindcove school and was a 1944 graduate of Exeter Union High School.

During World War II Mom sent a very powerful letter to a classmate Luis Rodriguez who was fighting the war in Europe. When he was discharged from the Army in 1946 he put Marie at the top of his priority list to visit. Two years later they married. They lived in the same home in Lindcove their entire lives. The house was remodeled at least five times to accommodate their five children and Mom's aunt Elvira Franco "Nana" who lived with them until her death. Mom was a telephone operator in Exeter. She retired after 33 years placing calls for customers locally and all over the world.

Mom and Dad raised five children. Teresa Miller lives in Farmersville, Anita Delgado and her husband Fred reside in Kingsburg, Robert Rodriguez and his wife Minda live in Galesburg, Illinois, Richard Rodriguez and his wife Margaret live in Fresno, and Diana and her boyfriend Ed Brown live in Lindcove.

Their greatest thrill was seeing all five graduate from college. They did it so well they also convinced their nephew Dan Haas to leave Southern California and attend COS and Fresno State. He too got his diploma.

Mom grew up very poor but when our friends came to visit as kids she made sure there was a place setting for them at the kitchen table.

When Mom retired she spent many years as a lay reader at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Exeter. She and my Dad also counted church collections every Monday.

Mom is grandmother to 16 children, a great grandmother to 33 children, and a great-great grandmother to six children.

Visitation for Marie was held on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024 at Smith Family Chapel from 4 to 6 p.m. and the reciting of the Holy Rosary took place immediately following at 6 p.m. The funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 417 N. E St., Exeter and directly following will be a committal at the Exeter District Cemetery. Arrangements by Smith Family Chapel, Exeter. Online condolences may be sent to the family through smithfamilychapel.com.