Maria de Jesus Rodriguez, 79, of Aurora, IL, passed away surrounded by her loving family on Monday, June 1, 2026.Maria leaves behind her children, Ana (Dimas) Vargas, Juan (Jeannie) Rodriguez, Eduard

Maria de Jesus Rodriguez, 79, of Aurora, IL, passed away surrounded by her loving family on Monday, June 1, 2026.Maria leaves behind her children, Ana (Dimas) Vargas, Juan (Jeannie) Rodriguez, Eduardo Rodriguez, Jorge Rodriguez and Marcos (Margarita) Rodriguez; Grandchildren, Adam (Gabby), Alexander, Amanda (George), Jonathan, Ashley (Andrew), Joshua (Emily), Monserrat (Jesus) and Jorge Jr.; 12 great grandchildren and 6 siblings.Maria was preceded in death by her loving husband, Juan Rodriguez Del Toro; parents, Jesus and Ignacia Magana Gonzalez and two children, Jose and Lupita.As a strong, hard-working lady who lived a long life in Mexico and in the U.S., Maria was a woman who liked to keep her home clean and organized. She liked to go for walks; her last walk was on the same day she passed. Maria had a bright personality which matched her appreciation for bright and stylish clothing and jewelry. She would never go anywhere without being dressed up in her best outfit, smelling like her favorite perfume and definitely not without her gold cross around her neck. She enjoyed eating out at many different restaurants where she could be pampered by being served her meals. She dined out often enough that most of the staff at the restaurants she frequented knew her by name. Maria enjoyed eating bread and also had quite a sweet tooth. Although she knew she was not supposed to indulge, she always found a way, whether it be with her secret stash of sweets or convincing her granddaughter to sneak her a cookie.Maria will be dearly missed by all who knew her.Family will be receiving guests on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 from 4:00pm until 8:00pm at Dieterle Memorial Home, 1120 South Broadway, Montgomery, IL 60538. A funeral mass will be held on Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 12:00pm at Saint Rita of Cascia Catholic Church, 750 Old Indian Trail, Aurora, IL 60506. Burial will immediately follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 278 Ashland Avenue, Aurora, IL 60505.