Anna Marie Rodgers

"This is not going to be your typical obituary. Why write something “typical” for someone who stood out in such extraordinary ways?

You may be curious now. What exactly makes this person so special that their obituary breaks the norm?

Well, for starters, how about this- my mom, Anna Marie Rodgers, used to be a nun.

Yes, a nun. As in “convent”. As in “habit”. A nun. I don’t believe that’s something you hear every day,

right?!? My sister and I used to love shocking people with that fact as we were introducing her to them. It never got old!

Growing up in San Fernando, CA, my mom was taught by nuns. She said she loved the presence they brought to the classroom and to her learning experience. It had such an immense, positive influence on her that she decided to join them and become a nun herself.

She began her teaching career while a nun. A teaching career that spanned 44 years! 44 years of teaching kids ranging in ages 5 - 20; can you even imagine?!? To do the same thing, day in, day out for 44 years requires a certain type of strength and fortitude, I believe.

At her core, she was strength and dependability; if there was something that needed to be done, no matter how unpleasant the task, you could always depend on her to do it. At her core she was generosity and selflessness; if there was something someone else needed more than she did, she would gladly give it away- and expect absolutely nothing in return. At her core, she was intelligence; she seemed to always know at least a little bit about a lot of things, and always enjoyed learning something new (“you learn something new every day” was a statement I heard quite a lot from her throughout my life!). At her core, she was a caregiver in the truest sense of the word; she loved taking care of others and ensuring that things were always running optimally in the background.

But, of all the highlights in her life, I think the ones that meant the absolute most to her would be her family and her friends. Nothing was as important to her as her husband and children, and later, her grandchildren. After 39 years of marriage, and 4 years of being apart after my dad’s passing, I know that they are joyful to be united once again. While she considered my dad to be her greatest friend, that never diminished how important the rest of her family and friends were to her.

She touched so many lives. Not only due to her years as a teacher, but merely with her natural way of being. And isn’t that what we all want? To make some sort of impact on this world, in some way? She did that through all of the people she made an impression on, just by being herself.

At her best, she can be remembered as a source of inspiration. Inspiration to draw on your strength and just do what needs to be done. Inspiration to give a little bit more. Inspiration to keep learning and better your life. Inspiration to be a little less materialistic. Inspiration to keep on going and live life, despite the heartaches or setbacks you may encounter.

She had a full life. There is no doubt that it was full of love. It was full of laughter. Full of memories. Full of stories.

Mom, we love you and we thank you for everything that you meant to each and every one of us. You will live forever in our hearts and our memories. Until we see you again…"

A graveside service for Anna will be held Saturday, June 17, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at South Lawn Cemetery, 5401 South Park Ave, Tucson, AZ 85706.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.funerariadelangelSL.com for the Rodgers family.