A funeral mass for Frances Rodriguez, the mother of El Paso sibling musicians Omar, Marfred, Marcel and Rikardo Rodriguez Lopez, will be from 1-2 p.m. March 27 at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 1551 Belvidere.
A visitation and rosary are from 7-7:45 p.m. today at Martin Funeral Home West, 128 N. Resler.
These are public events, but please be respectful of the family in its time of grief. This is not a photo or autograph opportunity. If you are thinking of going, please do so out of reverence for Mrs. Rodriguez — and respect the family's privacy and hurt.
Frances Rodriguez, whose maiden name was Lopez, died March 22, six days past her 62nd birthday.
"Frances was an incredible lady and we are all so fortunate to have had her in our lives," Carol and Raul Jimenez posted in the guest book on the funeral home's website.
"It is abundantly clear that Frances was a wonderful and loving wife and mother who left this earth all too soon and she will be missed but never forgotten," reads a post from El Pasoan Jose Tavarez and his family.
There is also a tribute video, which features family photos set to music. One group of photos sums it up with the subtitle: "Mas familia, this is what we are all about."
She is survived by her husband, psychiatrist Angel M. Rodriguez-Chevres and their sons.
Omar Rodriguez Lopez has mentioned his mother several times in recent interviews about his bands, The Mars Volta, whose album "Noctourniquet" came out today, and At the Drive-In, which is regrouping after 11 years for a series of festival shows this spring and summer.
"My mother is a very special woman with an unbelievable sense of God," he told the San Antonio Current after the March 12 premiere of his film "Los Chidos" at South by Southwest in Austin.
Rodriguez Lopez reportedly choked up when discussing his mother at a post-screening question-and-answer session that night, 10 days before her death.
"She's the most important thing in my life. I choked because she's getting old and one day I will no longer have her to give me advice," he told the Current.
He recently told LA Weekly that his mother was one of his biggest influences and she was one of his biggest fans, noting she drove a car with a Mars Volta license plate border and filled her five-CD player with his and her other sons' music, including Zechs Marquise, the instrumental band featuring Rodriguez Lopez's younter brothers.
Que descanse en paz, que Dios y la Virgen los acompane.
Jorge y Zonia
Posted by: Jorge | March 27, 2012 at 10:45 AM
I only knew of Frances when I was a kid growing up handing around two of their kids that were my friends and I can say she always looked out for there well being. She was a friendly lady and obviously a great mother. Rest in peace Frances.
Posted by: araiza | April 18, 2012 at 05:24 PM
Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family!
Posted by: Pole James | December 30, 2012 at 09:40 PM