Esperanza Rodriguez

Esperanza Rodriguez

October 21, 1937 - March 6, 2026

Esperanza “Chancha” Rodriguez (nee Morales), passed away peacefully on March 6, 2026 in Fountain Hills, Arizona surrounded by family.

Esperanza was born on October 21, 1937 in Chicago, Illinois to Eugenio and Rosenda Morales. As a child, she excelled in school, which lead to an accelerated double promotion in grammar school.

Esperanza graduated from Bowen High School in 1955 and shortly after met the love of her life, Armando Rodriguez and was married of August 2nd, 1958.

Together, the two of them successfully owned and operated two longstanding Chicago businesses. Opening in 1974, La Casa Rodriguez operated in the Roseland neighborhood for 20 years, and in 1991, La Luz Mexican Restaurant opened and served Esperanza’s famous chilaquiles and tamales in South Chicago for over 15 years.

Esperanza had a love for geography, maps, and Mexican music, Marco Antonio Solís being one of her favorite artists. She was an excellent cook and her family always looked forward to her incomparable Thanksgiving gravy. Esperanza always had a story to share, accompanied by a beautiful smile that lit up any room she was in.

She was fierce, resilient, and immeasurably kind. Along with her unwavering faith, her inner strength carried her through all seasons of life, a quality she instilled in her family as the beloved matriarch.

She was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 59 years, Armando M. Rodriguez and her son, James Rodriguez.

She is survived by her 3 children, Armando Jr. (Renee), Diane (Nabor), and Daniel (Mariena), and her 7 grandchildren, Julian (Alison), Lauren (Jason), Jessie (Michael), Rachel, Matthew, Sophia, and Farrah. Her pride and joy were her 4 great-grandchildren, Dylan, Benjamin, Marlo, and Owen Miguel, who knew her as Gigi.

No services will be held.