Martha Rodriguez

Martha Rodriguez, a resident of Clifton, entered into eternal rest Sunday morning, January 30, 2022, at her residence, surrounded by her family. Martha was 94.

Martha was born of May 17, 1927, to Concepcion Aguallo and Francisca Martinez. She was the sixth child of eight children. Martha went to school and graduated from Morenci High School. She later met and married her dream man Jose Eduardo Rodriguez and from this union came four children, Patricia Ann Gutierrez, Delfina Rodriguez, Richard Rodriguez, and Jose Armando Rodriguez. Mom was preceded in death by: her beloved husband, Jose; her parents; her daughter, Deflina; her son Armando; and six of her brothers and sisters.

Martha is survived by: her sister Emma Gomez, and sister-in-law, Jesusita Aguallo; her daughter, Patricia Gutierrez (Ronald) and her son Richard Rodriguez; her grandchildren, M. Rene Jaime Nicholson (Mike), Robert J. Gutierrez, Richard V. Rodriguez (Lenie) and Martina E. Pena Rodriguez; four great-grandsons, Jakub I. Jaime, Armando C. Burrola, Richard V. Rodriguez II and Joseph R. Rodriguez; two step great-granddaughters, Jealousy and Gabriela Diaz; a great-great- granddaughter, Nevaeh F. Jaime; and a great-great-grandson, David A. Altamirano.

Martha was very active, she sang in the Sacred Heart Spanish Choir, was a catechism teacher, a Boy Scout Leader and briefly as a Girl Scout Leader. She was also a Eucharistic Minister and was instrumental, with the help of Sister Amparo, in re-activating the organization of Las Guadalupanas.

She and her group of friends called themselves the "Golden Girls" and they would get together and have bake sales to be able to offer a small scholarship to a student from Clifton High School for a few years. They also got together a float for the "Festival of Lights they were roses, you know green outfits and a big red rose cutout around their face awesome. The Golden Girls would gather at a house and eat and sing as most of them were in the Spanish Choir. For birthdays, and big celebrations the Golden Girls were first on the list of family and friends. Martha was very active in the Sacred Heart Parish. Other than the choir, she was one of the people that cleaned the church every Thursday. As the group called themselves the “Golden Girls”, they and their husbands, the “Golden Boys”, were partners in crime. When one was involved, they all were.

Martha’s faith was very strong and she instilled it in her children, praying the rosary every morning. She could often be found at the church doing serving the Lord.

She worked for a year at the Morenci Taxi Service, later marrying and devoting her time to her family. For a couple of years, she and Jose contracted to clean the Forest Service Office at its present location at Three Way.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Martha will be celebrated Friday morning, February 18, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., at Sacred Heart Catholic Church by Rev. Nathaniel Mma. Committal will follow in the Sacred Heart Cemetery.

A Rosary and prayers will be offered Friday morning, February 18, 2022, at 9:00 a.m., at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

The family will receive friends Friday morning, February 18, 2022, from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m., also at the church.

Those who would like to attend the services via Facebook Live can join on Vining Funeral Home's Facebook page Friday morning, February 18, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. (MST).