Obituary of Rafael Rodriguez

In Loving Memory of Rafael Rodriguez

It is with heavy hearts and profound respect that we mark the passing of our beloved patriarch Rafael Rodriguez, 83 years old from Rochester, New York.  Rafael passed away peacefully in his sleep after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. Up until the end, Rafael remained a gentle soul with so much love for his family.  He will always be remembered for his profound love for baseball, the game of dominoes and his collection of hat wear. 

Rafael was born in Morovis, Puerto on March 12, 1942, his beloved parents were Ramon Rodriguez and Juana Otero. He was a devoted husband of 56 years to Ana L. Rodriguez and a loving father to Rafael Jr. (Victoria) Rodriguez, Janet (Luis) Roché, Lillian (Abraham) Guevara. His five grandchildren, Luis Daniel, Ashley Marie, Alyssa Marie, Alejandro Rafael & Israel will forever cherish the memories and wisdom he shared.  His 3 beautiful great-granddaughters, Nashaly, Amaya and Nayeli will forever love their Welo. 

Rafael came from a very large family from Puerto Rico, who came to Brooklyn, New York in and then settled here in the Greater Rochester area. He had a total of 12 siblings with 6 remaining here in the United States.He was loved by his many nieces, nephews and extended family members from far and near.  He will be remembered for his kindness, integrity, respect and immense love for his family, he has left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him.

Rafael was a dedicated worker at the University of Rochester Campus for 33 years. He enjoyed reporting to work on a daily basis to the Laser Lab facility and other campus areas to ensure that the grounds, floors and facilities were top notch for employees and students.

A funeral service is being held in his honor on September 4, 2025, at Paul W. Harris Funeral Home, 570 Kings Highway South with  viewing from 4pm-7pm for family and friends and a Celebration of Life service at 7pm right at the funeral hom. His burial will be on September 5, 2025, starting at 10am at the funeral home with a procession to Riverside Cemetery, 2650 Lake Avenue, Rochester, New York.

Thank you to the Wilmot Cancer Center, especially Dr. Maria McGreevey and her team for their loving care of our patriarch, and to the team of doctors and nurses in the Infusion Center as well as the GIE Hepatology Offices.

We find comfort in knowing that his legacy lives on through the lessons he taught us, the love he shared and the memories we will cherish forever.

Rest in peace.