Maria Rodriguez

Maria Rodriguez

Maria Rodriguez, (Nee Alvarez), a longtime resident of Irvington, passed away at age 94, surrounded by her loving family.

Funeral services will be at the Galante Funeral Home 2800 Morris Ave. Union on Friday 10 AM. Entombment  Hollywood Cemetery. Visitation Thursday 4 - 8 PM, and Friday 9 AM to 10 AM.

She was re-united with her cherished husband Gilberto Rodriguez, who passed away in 1990

Maria was born to Spanish parents in West Virginia in 1925. She lost her father in 1931 and returned to Spain. In 1952 she returned to her beloved United States with her husband Gilberto and young son Luis to start a new life. They settled in Newark's Ironbound section, worked hard, saved their earnings, and purchased their dream home in Irvington. Maria and Gilberto welcomed a new son Gilberto Jr. into that home, opened their doors and entertained family and friends to holiday feasts for decades. She was a true matriarch in every sense of the word, a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Her greatest joy was a being a grandmother. She also loved being Tia to her wonderful nieces and nephews.  She very much enjoyed telling everyone she was a proud American, born in the greatest country on earth, all in her beautiful Spanish accent.

Maria is survived by her son Luis Carmelo Rodriguez, his wife Valerie Rodriguez., her son Gil Rodriguez, his wife Karen Rodriguez and their three children, Gilbert, Gina, and Anthony, her beloved sister America Tielve, her brothers Francisco Dominguez and Alejandro Dominguez and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.