Juanita "Cupi" Eleanor Rodriguez

Juanita “Cupi” Eleanor Rodriguez was born on May 23, 1938 to Matiana and Antonio Alcala of Chino, California. She grew up in Chino with her brothers Gilbert, Richard, and George, who preceded her in death, and is survived by her older sister Gloria of Pomona, Ca. She graduated from Chino High School and soon thereafter married her now husband, Albert C. Rodriguez, also of Chino. In high school, Juanita took art classes and in her senior year, she entered and won an art contest given by the Pomona Valley Art Association. She was awarded a scholarship for six art classes to further her skill.

However, before pursuing her love of art, she and Albert married and decided to raise a family in Ontario, CA where they built a house and a home together. Their children are, first born son, Albert P. Rodriguez, now residing in Adelanto, Ca with his wife Irene Rodriguez, son Adelmo “Del” R. Rodriguez now residing in Bullhead, AZ, and daughter, Marina I. Zapien, residing in Ontario, Ca with her husband Raul “Ralph” Zapien Jr., all of whom she leaves behind as her legacy.

Once her children were grown, Juanita began to take art classes again and learned to oil paint and her God-given talent shone it’s beautiful light and an Artist came alive. Mom, however, only saw it as a hobby while those around her marveled at her talent to paint with such detail from a picture of Elvis holding her own hand as a fan in the crowd as he sang at a concert, to each intricate feather on a red tailed hawk. Mom was modest though and did not seek financial gain, she only loved to paint for her own pleasure and she hung her art works throughout her home.

Mom also loved God and the Lord having been raised a Catholic. She was devout to her husband and children, they came first before herself as she was ultimately answering to her Father in heaven in all that she did and said up until her day of passing.

For 20 years she also took aerobic classes at the YMCA in Ontario as she loved to exercise and dance. She and her husband often attended local dances. She loved camping with her family, traveling, restaurant hopping, and going to the movies with her husband. She also loved music and singing and dancing along. She also enjoyed reading, and gardening, and enjoyed nature and animals, hummingbirds being her favorite, and she always saw the possibility to paint the landscapes, animals, children or people she saw.

Juanita loved and cared for others. She would often ask about how others were doing and she tried her best to remember birthdays and holidays and give a gift or a phone call when she could. She was a very kind, meek, and mild spirit but also the strongest person we were honored to know and see live out her life.

She was diagnosed with lung cancer in July of 2022 and would eventually pass away due to the toll it took on her health. She leaves behind her husband, her 3 children, and their spouses, her sister Gloria, nieces and nephews, brother in laws and sister in laws, and many other family and friends.

We love you and miss you so very much Mom and look forward to the day to see you smiling and in perfect health as you are now in the heavens. See you in Paradise Mom!