RODRIQUEZ, Margaret D.

Margaret D. Rodriguez, 79, died Sept. 3, 2006, at La Villa Grande Care Center in Grand Junction. Margaret (Rivera) Rodriguez was born May 8, 1927, in Salida to Porfirio "Pete" Rivera and Adelina Lucero Rivera. She and her family moved to Salida in 1945 and her father worked for the Rio Grande Railroad. She met Nicholos "Nick" Roger Rodriguez who then worked for The Mountain Mail. They married Dec. 23, 1951, and lived in Salida before moving to Grand Junction. Her husband died March 15, 1994. Mrs. Rodriguez worked at Gay Johnson's Restaurant in Grand Junction in the late 1960s. She also worked for School District 51 as a teacher's aide at Broadway and Scenic Elementary schools in the early 1970s. She was a member of the Colorado Migrant Council as an advocate for migrant workers' rights in Colorado and the United States. Mrs. Rodriguez worked at, and retired from St. Mary's hospital after 21 years in environmental services, often serving as a Spanish translator for hospital patients and staff. She was a life-long member of the Independent Order of Foresters and was an active member of her church, Zion Assembly of God. Survivors are her children, Richard Rodriguez of Grand Junction; Mary Martinez of Waterbury, Conn.; Daniel (Elizabeth) Rodriguez of Grand Junction; Linda Mitchell-Rodriguez of Grangeville, Idaho; Theodore Rodriguez of Grand Junction and Mark (Sylvia) Rodriguez of Grand Junction; siblings, Leonard (Kathy) Rivera of Salt Lake City, Utah; Stella (Ted) Beauchamp of Anaheim, Calif.; Joann Reyes of Denver and Arthur (Martha) Lucero of Penrose; 15 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Joseph Rivera, Carolyn Sinclair, Teresa Jarrett and Jerry Rivera. A funeral service was held Sept. 9, 2006, at the Zion Assembly of God Church in Grand Junction, followed by interment in Orchard Mesa Cemetery. Mountain Mail