Gloria Fernandez Rodriguez

Gloria Fernandez Rodriguez died peacefully at approximately 2:00 PM on May 25, 2022, at the age of 96. She is reunited in heaven with her husband, Consuello Joseph Rodriguez, the love of her life.
Gloria was born on June 29, 1925 in New Orleans, Louisiana. She attended Sacred Heart, on Canal Street, for grammar and high school. Named captain of her high school basketball team, they played for the city championship her senior year. Gloria scored nine of her team's eighteen points, leading the team to a one-point victory and the city championship trophy.
In addition, she pitched on the school's softball team and played the saxophone in the high school band. The Sacred Heart School Girl's Band captured first place in its division of the state school band contest two years in succession. The 46 members of the band traveled to Little Rock, Arkansas for the National High School Music Festival taking second in concert and marching competitions.
She walked five blocks to and from school every day, often sharing her walk with her future husband who attended Warren Easton High School across the street. Gloria graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1943.
Living on Canal Street, she spent many evenings sitting on her porch with her sisters listening to her father, an immigrant from Spain, speaking Spanish with his brothers. During the summer months, she worked at Waterbury's Drugstore. Later she worked at Pan American Life Insurance Company.
Soon after graduating from Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy, her future husband went off to fight in World War II. They stayed in touch by writing letters, many containing Connie's drawings and artwork as cameras were not readily available at that time.
After reuniting in New York City at the conclusion of the war, they were married in New Orleans on July 31, 1946 and settled down in New Orleans to begin their life together. She worked at South Central Bell until three months following the birth of her first child. She then retired and became a housewife. She devoted her life to raising her family, the product of the values instilled in her at a very early age by her parents.
Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, Josephine Rizzo Fernandez and Manuel Fernandez, her three sisters, Juanita Fernandez Baiamonte, Louise Fernandez Viosca, and Leona Fernandez Hymel, and her brother, Manuel Fernandez.
She is survived by her three sons, Don (Jane), David (Carol), and Deane. She also has been blessed with six grandchildren Steven Rodriguez, Michael Rodriguez, Lisa Rodriguez Frugé (Joel), Brian Rodriguez (Brennan), Kevin Rodriguez (Emily), and Ryan Rodriguez (Allison). She is also survived by eight great grandchildren, Gabriella Rodriguez, Noah Frugé, Olivia Frugé, Wrenly Frugé, Amelié Rodriguez, Max Rodriguez, Miles Rodriguez, and Graham Rodriguez.
Nothing was more important to Gloria than family. She loved the family gatherings at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and her favorite, Easter. She rarely missed any of her children's or grandchildren's ball games, dance recitals, gymnastics meets, school plays, birthday parties, first communions, confirmations, and weddings.
After the death of her husband, she lived in New Orleans East until moving to Mandeville in 2002. She loved the peaceful life of the North Shore, often taking short drives along the Mandeville lakefront and visits to Pelican Park for the grandkids' ballgames.
I am confident that by now she and Connie have resumed the Friday night card games with Aunt Katty, Uncle Bob, and Uncle Maxsay. Heaven will never be the same again.
The family would like to thank the aides and nurses of Legacy Hospice Care for the care given to Gloria during these last several weeks. We would like to especially thank the nurses, Cindy Bourgeois, Michelle Cornett, and Mary Ellen Hernandez, for their expertise and compassion in caring for Gloria. The family would also like to thank her sitter, Cindy Harris, for her kindness and devotion in caring for Gloria.
Relative and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at Jacob Schoen Funeral Home, 3827 Canal St. New Orleans, LA 70119, on Saturday, June 4, 2022 at 11:00 am. Visitation will be from 9:00 am until 11:00 am. Interment follows at Lake Lawn Park Mausoleum.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to the Alzheimer's Association or to
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. To view and sign the virtual register book, please visit www.schoenfh.com.