Catalina Rodriguez Ruiz

Catalina was born April 29, 1930 in Pinar del Rio, Cuba to Luis and Serafina Padron. Catalina was one of 10 children. She overcame a childhood of hardship and deprivation and moved to Habana where she met her husband Aldo Rodriguez and gave birth to their only child, son Aldo Lazaro Rodriguez. After her husband’s passing in Cuba, she emigrated with her only son Aldo to the United States in 1970 to fulfill their dream of raising him in freedom, eventually settling in Houston, Texas with the help of her sister Josefa. To make a living Catalina worked multiple jobs to support her only son including a long career at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Sharpstown. Catalina lived the last twenty years of her life in Sugar Land, TX with her family at their home and the help of her excellent caregiver Olga Estrada.

Catalina will be remembered for many things, but above all her generous and loving heart. She provided a vital lifeline to family in Cuba through remittances. She was always willing to offer help and counsel to her friends, of which she had many. Catalina was a devoted Christian who was an integral member of every Seventh Day Adventist congregation she joined. She also drew comfort and hope from the story of Lazarus. Catalina liked to keep up with Latin American politics and avidly watched the Spanish-language news. She was an inspiration to her family through her example of resilience and triumph over adversity.

Catalina is preceded in death by her husband Aldo Rodriguez and second husband Gabriel Ruiz, and her sisters and brothers. She is survived by sisters Josefa Guerrero in McAllen, TX and Juana Padron in Mariano, Cuba, close sister-in-law Carmen Hernandez in Habana, Cuba, son Aldo Lazaro Rodriguez, daughter-in-law and caregiver Sara Maria Rodriguez, grandchildren Sara Yael Rodriguez and Aldo Raphael Rodriguez and many nieces, nephews and cousins in the United States and Cuba who loved her dearly.