Obituary of Guillermina Rodriguez

Guillermina “Mina” Rodriguez died peacefully on June 28, 2019 in her home in White Settlement, TX at the age of 73.  She is survived by her husband of over 58 years, Juan N. Rodriguez. A loving mother to 5 children, blessed with 10 grandchildren, and a mother hen to her 7 Siblings, their 20 children, and 27 grandchildren (and counting)...

She brought a spark to the world and joy wherever she went. Her legacy has left a mark in the hearts of the people who were lucky enough to have had her in their lives. Her life’s journey started in a small town in Mexico, where as the spunky eldest child in her family, she would work alongside her father learning to pick things like cotton, peppers, and onions, run a bike rental business, and the ins and outs of constructing rental homes.

Her aspirations however extended beyond that small town and her desire to do more inspired the whole family to move to the city of Juarez Mexico in her early teen years. Once there, she learned the ins and outs of taking care of a home and maneuvering between living in one country and working in the other.   During this time, her romance with Juan began and a few years after they married, they chose to move their budding family to El Paso, TX.

Their new home brought many opportunities and challenges to her. Her first job was in a meat packing manufacturing plant, then she moved on to Justin boots, then Levi’s where she became a seamstress and mastered every task of making a pair of Levi’s jeans, including the pockets. To those who’ve ever tried this, you know it is no small feat. 

No challenge was too big. Her courage was boundless, fueled by her faith in God, and her aspirations to improve drove her to seek a better version of herself in all she did. She was an exemplary loving and working mom who taught her children the value of hard work and to give their all to their education. In her late 30s, she tackled the challenge of learning a new language as an adult at the El Paso Community College. She would work in the bookstore and in the counseling office at EPCC. She was known for her great sense of humor, dedication to her family and education, and overall loving heart. So loving in fact that she taught us the importance of being accepting of everyone’s differences and appreciative of the roles we all play in this world.  

Once she got a good enough grasp of the English language, she jumped ship and enrolled in the local cosmetology school where she pursued her lifelong dream of being a hairdresser. After having earned her cosmetology degree, she would volunteer in the local nursing homes cutting hair as she believed in always giving back to the community. She went on to work in multiple salons over her cosmetology career, both in El Paso and Fort Worth, TX, to which she and her husband moved after their youngest child graduated from high school. 

In Fort Worth, she took a job at the White Settlement Walmart where her use of the English language flourished. She went on to work at Papillon salon where her hair washing abilities often left the words “oh feels so good, feels so good” on the lips of her lucky clients. Her customers would say she had magical fingers and would wait in line for her loving and tender head massages. 

After retirement, for as long as their health allowed, she and her husband would go to the White Settlement Senior Citizen center where she was nicknamed “Little Sunshine” as she would always brighten up the day.  She was known for her quick wit and always striving to raise people’s spirits by being a total ham… if you weren’t laughing while you were around her, you weren’t paying attention.

She kept us laughing until her dying day and instilled in us the ultimate gift a parent can give any child  - the knowledge to carry on and continue to honor her memory by being the best versions of ourselves we could possibly be.

We love you our little “Mina de Oro” and will forever carry you in our hearts.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday, July 2nd from 6-9 at:

Merit Memorial Funeral and Cremation Care

12801 N Stemmons Fwy suite 803, 

Farmers Branch, TX 75234

(972) 810-1700

Friday, July 5^th, Viernes 5 de Julio

Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

1240 South Espina 

Las Cruces NM 88001

10-11 Viewing/Velatorio

11-11:30 Rosary/Rosario

11:30-12:30 Funeral Service/Servicio Funebre

Masonic Cemetery

760 S. Compress Road

Las Cruces NM 88055

12:30-1:30 Funeral