Obituary of Tomas Rodriguez

Tomas Rodriguez born in Cidra, Puerto Rico December 21, 1948 to the late Jose Rodriguez-Lopez and Maria Melendez-Burgos was called home to be with the Lord on September 28, 2015 after a brief illness. He moved to Vineland, NJ at the age of 16 years old where he met his wife of 46 years, Gloria Maria Rodriguez-Santos. Tomas was a spiritual man who was known to be compassionate to all he came in contact with. He was part of the Cursillo De Cristiandad at the Spanish Catholic Center as well as a marriage counselor in his early twenties. He would often lend an ear, counsel, hug and give love to a person in need. He would give you the shirt off his back. To know him was to love him. Tomas was an exceptional family man who loved his wife and children. He had an amazing voice and found joy in singing especially during the Christmas holidays where he would go out "Parrandiando". He worked as head custodian at Rossi School for approximately 25 years before retiring. Loved by students and teachers, he was nicknamed "Mr. Clean". The singing janitor sang "La Bamba" at the Rossi School Talent show one year. He mostly loved his animals especially Roosters known as "El Gallero". He also enjoyed his Paso Fino Horses. He often brought them out in the Annual Puerto Rican Festival. He was easy going. He was a go getter owning several properties by the age of twenty. His famous quote was "Life is what you make it." He liked to joke and be amongst his friends. He is predeceased by his parents, his uncle Luis Angel, two siblings; Migdalia Rodriguez and Jose Luis Rodriguez as well as a nephew Felix Rodriguez. He is survived by his wife, Gloria M Rodriguez; his two sons Tomas Rodriguez Jr. (Lucy Rodriguez) and Javier Rodriguez ( Bernadette Jester) his two daughters Betsy Rodriguez and Idaly Rodriguez (Bryan), his grandchildren Tomas Rodriguez III , Raquel Rodriguez, Nyasia Cirino, Celina Rodriguez , Xavier Rodriguez and great grandchild Jonah Michael all from Vineland NJ; His siblings Eneida Rodriguez, Benjamin Rodriguez, Luz Miriam Rodriguez, Lilliam Rodriguez and Sergio Rodriguez all from Cidra PR and a host of nieces and nephews. A Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated on Wednesday at 11am at Divine Mercy Parish, St. Francis of Assisi Church 23 W. Chestnut Ave., Vineland. Tomas will be laid to rest at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Vineland. Family and friends will be received on Tuesday evening from 5pm to 8pm at the DeMarco-Luisi Funeral Home 2755 S. Lincoln Ave., Vineland and again on Wednesday morning from 9:30am to 10:45am at the CHURCH.