John Rodriguez

It is with great sorrow that the family of John Rodriguez announces his sudden passing on April 7th, 2023. John is survived by his loving mother, Theresa Manjarez, and Aunt Marie Theresa Saldivar.

He is survived by many close family members including brother, Michael Rodriguez, Jr., sister-in-law, Carmen Rodriguez, and beloved nephew and niece Christian and Jocelin Rodriguez. He is also preceded in death by step-father Thomas Manjarez Jr., and survived by step-brother Thomas Manjarez III, estranged wife and forever friend, Effie Ann Reed, sons Anthony, Angel, and Andreas, grandchildren Leon, Ember, Ellison, and Anniston all from Tennessee, father, Miguel Rodriguez Sr., and step brother and sister, Mikey and Marie Rodriguez.

John worked as a Direct Support Professional (DSP) for Indiana Mentor Community based Health Care in Merrillville, IN. He was currently employed by NEWSTAR / The Arc Community Organization in Merrillville, IN as a DSP. He enjoyed helping others was a natural born caregiver. John was truly an artist, and created drawings, painted, and wrote lyrics as a hobby. He had great enthusiasm for all kinds of music. If you knew John, you knew he had an incredible sense of humor. He was always laughing and smiling. He was surrounded by so much love. John held his mother’s heart in his hands. For years, he provided her with every essential need in a caring, and sometimes hilarious way. These memories are her treasure. She loved him beyond words and he will be missed beyond measure. John provided time to his special needs child-adult aunt, Marie Saldivar, on a daily basis. John was her guiding light, her protector, and great source of happiness. He encouraged Marie to do things for herself, before asking if she needed help. Every day spent with John was her favorite day. John was an “Irish Twin”, growing up so close in age to his brother, Michael. They developed a significant adolescence of closeness and dependency. The brothers helped annoy, quarrel, and above all were always there for each other. There was no time like the “old times”. John’s passing was a shock and devastation to his “Bro”. Michael’s heart aches knowing his Bro is no longer here. Loving memories of the Rodriguez brother’s will last forever. John was a loving brother-in law to Carmen Rodriguez for over 30 years. During the early years of their lives, John, Carmen and his brother Michael, lived in Tennessee. John often spoke of the time he and Carmen had to share one TV with no cable, and watch the same movie over and over again. It is with a heavy heart that Carmen says goodbye to her brother-in-law. There is nothing sweeter than a tight hug and unfeigned love of a niece and nephew. John helped Jocelin and Christian get into mischief that they had not thought of yet. They shared their secrets and feelings with their Tio, that their parents may not have been aware of. He was like a glass of refreshing lemonade or beer in the hot summer of life. Christian and Jocelin will forever carry John in their hearts. There truly are no words to comfort their young hearts. John as a teenager moved to Tennessee to raise his children. His self sacrificing ways and unique unconditional love helped them grow into men with confidence and strength. John moved back to Indiana where he continued his role as a father, even from miles away. He was grateful for the precious time he spent with his boys during the summer months when they lived with him. He watched them grow with confidence and molded them into the fine husbands and fathers they are today. John had many cousins by blood in his life, but also friends by choice. He shared countless memorable phone conversations of stories and opinions, all filled with bursts of deep, loud, heartfelt laughter. Throughout the years, cousins made special visits, just like friends, bringing John joy and ideas from their own experiences. John was not a sports fan, but when a die-hard cousin Bulls fan dropped by, they would order pizza and watch the game with excitement. Given one more chance, John would welcome another phone conversation, cherish another visit, or order another pizza and watch another Bulls game. John was a loyal friend to many people he acknowledged as family. It would be unfair to name a few and miss so many. John trusted, confided, and respected his friends on a very personal level. John and his friends gave each other the greatest gift of all, true joy. John is gone from their sight, but never from their hearts. Last, but certainly not least, John is preceded in death by his loving grandmother, who raised him while his mom worked to provide for the family, and his Tia who he lived with in Tennessee during her battle with cancer, which she unfortunately succumbed to in 2007. John was loved by a special aunt, uncle, and cousin, who when eating at a restaurant always remembered him and brought him dinner. John was truly a remarkable individual. Our loving John joins seven generations of precious, hardworking, and proud grandmothers, endearing aunts, uncles, loving cousins, and incredibly special friends in Heaven. Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. We know this is a “See You Later” and we will forever love John Rodriguez, our protector.

May John rest peacefully in Heaven.

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