Zoila Emma Rodriguez

Zoila was born on April 22, 1929 to Eduvijes Melara and Carlos Barillas in a small town in El Salvador, Central America. Born into poverty, and with only an 8th grade education, her creativity, determination and faith in God served her well in the various endeavors in her young life, from working serving food and processing and touching up photos in color, to eventually starting her own small store.

In 1951, Zoila met a musician, Fernando Garcia. At the age of 23 she had a son, Fernando Garcia II, and that same year she became a widow. In 1962 she met Carlos Martir Sanchez and she had another boy, named George Melara in 1963. In 1967, she left her family and community in the pursuit of the American dream and went to live in Los Angeles, California. Around 1969 she married Marcello Rodriguez, and in 1971 they had a beautiful little girl they named Yesenia Rodriguez.

In the US, Zoila worked first as a nanny and a housekeeper. She later worked for Jerry Mann in the garment district of Los Angeles. Zoila later joined the McCulloch Corporation and moved to their factory in Lake Havasu City, AZ in 1979, where she made her home. Zoila became a US Citizen on August 21, 1981. Zoila was a devoted member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church for over 51 years.

Zoila worked for McCulloch Corporation for about 16 years and retired in 1995. In 2001, she moved back to California to live with her daughter Yesenia in Laguna Niguel, California. Zoila enjoyed traveling with her family and she went on vacations with them to Mexico, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Australia, the Caribbean, and Europe. Her hobbies were cooking, shopping, buying gifts for others, sewing, and sharing the gospel and speaking of Jesus’ soon return to everyone she could.

Zoila is survived by her loving son George and daughter-in-law Linda Melara, of Scottsdale, Arizona; her devoted daughter Yesenia and son-in-law Gary Jotblad, of Laguna Niguel, California. Zoila was blessed with 8 grandchildren, whom she loved very much (Brenda, Michelle, Fernando, Hanna, Allison, Emma, Jackie and Charlie); and 13 great-grandchildren (Kaila, Matthew, Jr., Isaac, Vincent, Evonne, Olivia, Fernando, George, Juniper, George, Griffin and Odin); and many beloved grandnieces, grandnephews, and friends.

Zoila was preceded in death by her older sisters Carmen and Susana, her husband of 22 years Marcello Rodriguez, and her first born son Fernando Garcia, in 2019.

Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of life at 11:00 am on March 4, 2023, at Fairhaven Memorial Services, 27856 Center Dr., Mission Viejo, California 92692. A private interment will be held on Monday, March 6th at 1:30 pm.

Zoila’s family would like to thank Gemma and Mission Viejo hospice, who served her compassionately over the last week of her life; her granddaughter Michelle Wilkins who tenderly cared for her and served her the last day before her death; and the pastor and congregation of the Spanish Laguna Niguel Seventh Day Adventist church for their love and support. We express sincere appreciation to Yesenia and Gary Jotblad, who loved and cared for Zoila for the past 22 years.