Aurora Rodriguez

Aurora Rodriguez, 67, of Stockton, departed her earthly habitat to meet her Lord the evening of Saturday, December 07, 2013, of natural causes. Born on November 6, 1946 in Laredo, TX to Lauro and Herlinda Veytia, Aurora attended Tomas Sanchez Elementary School, Lamar Middle School, and Martin High School before getting married. She had her first child on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, TX - the same day and location where President Kennedy was assassinated. She named her son John Fitzgerald in his honor. After having her second son, Cesar Jr., in 1965, she and her family moved to California where she began working at the H.J. Heinz Co. factory in Tracy, CA. Aurora's third son, Michael, was born in 1972, and in 1978 the family moved to Stockton. Her fourth son, Gabriel, was born in 1981. Aurora worked for the H.J. Heinz Company for over 25 years before being elected Recording Secretary for Stockton's Teamsters Union, Local 601 in 1994. It was here that she did some of her most gratifying work - providing representation to local cannery workers, helping to mediate disputes at company arbitrations, and speaking to workers about how to improve workplace conditions. Aurora experienced many hardships in her life. Chief among these were the tragic deaths of her sons Johnny, in 1981, and Michael, in 1991. She also suffered debilitating injuries in a 1997 car accident that led to her early retirement. Despite this, Aurora endured these events by maintaining a positive attitude in life and by strengthening her faith in Jesus Christ, whom she kept in her heart throughout her life. These hardships also drove Aurora to deeply empathize with other people and develop a strong activist spirit. In addition to her work at the Teamsters union, she became involved with MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) after the death of her son in 1991 and was involved in Democratic politics. Her greatest gifts were her willingness to lend a sympathetic ear to both friends and strangers, and her ability to empathize with those who faced hardships in their lives. Through all of this, Aurora's main focus was always on being a loving and supportive wife and mother to her family. She truly was the glue that held her family together, and she will be greatly missed. Aurora was preceded in death by her two sons, John Fitzgerald Rodriguez and Michael Anthony Rodriguez. She is survived by her childhood sweetheart and husband of fifty-one years, Cesar Rodriguez Sr. of Stockton; her two sons, Cesar Rodriguez Jr. of Stockton and Gabriel Rodriguez of San Francisco; her siblings, America Montes (Laredo, TX), Dolores Volpe (Laredo, TX), Linda Duncan (San Antonio, TX), Genny Pimentel (Stockton), and Gilbert Veytia (Dallas, TX); as well as many nephews, nieces, and dear friends. A Memorial Visitation will take place on Saturday, January 4, 2014 from 5 to 7 in the evening at Joe Jackson North Funeral Chapels, 1410 Jacaman Rd., where a Prayer Service will be held at 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in her name where friends and family may express their sympathies and assist her family in honoring her memory. Those wishing to contribute may do so by visiting the following link: http://bit.ly/1cGGmzL