Obituary of Alicia Rodriguez Ponce

Alicia (aka as Alice and Licha) Rodriguez Ponce was first born of nine children on April 29, 1943,

to first generation and Spanish, only, speaking parents, Maria Cruz and Geronimo Rodriguez in San Marcos, Texas.  The Rodriguez family consisted of four generations with her at 75 years of age being the eldest and the Matriarch of the family.

At age 15 and as a freshman she had to withdraw from school and enter the work force to help her mom care for and provide for her eight younger siblings, ages one to twelve as her father became gravely ill with asymmetric lateral Sclerosis (ALS) also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, which would take his life.

Alice married the love of her life, Juan Pastrano Ponce, from Martindale, Texas.  They had two daughters, Sylvia Jean (Rodriguez) Villalpando and Cynthia Ann (Ponce) Prado.  Alice with the support of her husband, provided as much as possible to her younger siblings and widowed mother.  Their home was a safehaven!  She housed several of her siblings, nephews, her elderly grandfather and mother in law.  She always had her door open to anyone and everyone.  It was the place to hang out, to have fun, to relax, to rest, to converse, to laugh, to cry, and to eat.  For these reasons she was deservingly considered the Matriarch of the family.

Alice’s work consisted of cleaning houses, waiting tables at San Marcos’ popular Acapulco Restaurant which existed in the 1960’s to 1970’s, and a cashier and ironist at Sunshine Laundry Cleaners, before joining the food industry as a cook where she worked at Gary Job Corps Center and then as a Cafeteria Manager for the SMCISD, from where she retired.

Alice had substantial internal and exterior strength.  She survived three different episodes of cancer.  She was very witty and loved to cook, travel and dance.  She was known to prepare large meals for those in need during crisis.

Her greatest accomplishments and joy was her family; particularly her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Alice entered into eternal life to live and rejoice in Heaven forever on September 28, 2018.

Alice is preceded in death by; father, Geronimo Rodriguez; mother, Maria Cruz Rodriguez; brother, Alberto Rodriguez; son in law, Santos Prado; sister in law, Doris Villanueva Rodriguez; nephew, Mario Rodriguez, Jr.

Survived by; husband, Juan Pastrano Ponce; daughter, Sylvia Jean (Rodriguez) Villalpando and spouse Michael Villalpando, Sr.; daughter, Cynthia Ann (Ponce) Prado

Grandchildren; Michael Villalpando, Jr. and spouse, Jennifer, Michelle Lynn Villalpando, Juan Eduardo Villalpando, Crystal Isabel Prado (Mario Perez), Maricela Alyssa Prado (Eduardo Juarez), Brianna June Prado, and Alicia Beatrice Prado.

Great grandchildren; Alexandra Nicole Villalpando, Michael Villalpando, III, Alena Jade Villalpando, Ricardo Villalpando, Mireya Esperanza Prado, Araceli Nixzaliz Prado and Santos Jeremiah Prado.

Siblings; Geronimo Rodriguez (Inez), Richard Rodriguez, Margie Velasquez (Joe), Mario Rodriguez (Dolores), Nelda Mendez (Rudy), Sulema Rodriguez, SIL Doria “Dottie” Rodriguez, and Carlos Ruben “Charlie” Rodriguez (Sara Garcia), and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will begin Monday, October 1, 2018 starting at 5:00pm-9:00pm with Recitation of Holy Rosary held at 7:00pm at Los Angeles Funeral Home ... 300 Cheatham St. ... San Marcos, Texas.  Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:00am Tuesday, October 2, 2018 in St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church ... 624 E. Hopkins ... San Marcos, Texas.   Internment will follow in Memory Lawn Memorial Park in Martindale, Texas. 

Pallbearers: Michael Villalpando, Jr., Juan Eduardo Villalpando, Mario Perez, Eulalio Juarez, Geronimo Rodriguez, Jr., Richard Rodriguez, Mario Rodriguez, Charlie Rodriguez, and Eric Rodriguez.

Honorary Pallbearers: Ricardo Villalpando, Michael Villalpando, III, and Santos Jeremiah Prado.  

Please visit www.losangelesfh.com to offer condolences and to send flowers.