Debbie Marie Rodriguez

Debbie Marie Rodriguez, age 43, passed away on March 22, 2020, at Tucson Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona. She struggled for years with a rare and difficult to diagnose disease that has no treatment or cure. Debbie was born on March 16, 1977, in Phoenix, Arizona. She spent her first eight years of life there before moving to Tucson with her mother, Maria Elena Riley, age 63, her father, David Allen Riley, and her brother, Charles (Chucky) Riley, age 44. Her childhood pastimes included gymnastics and fighting with her brother. He was protective of her, as any good older brother should be, and they shared a bond that was unbreakable. She attended Cholla High School, during which she enjoyed chorus and loved her cats. She became a mother only one day after turning 18 to her eldest son, Alfredo David Allen Rodriguez, age 25. She gave birth to her first daughter, Denitza Monique Rodriguez, age 24, just eleven months later. Her third child, Janai Yasmeen Molina, age 22, was born about two weeks before her 20th birthday. Almost four years later she had her fourth child, Kyanna Rayna Aguilar, age 18. The last child that she gave birth to was Arturo Abran Aguilar Jr, age 13. But God knew their family wasn’t complete yet because her family was blessed with the adoption of her sixth child, Miannah Rae Aguilar, age 10. By the age of 37, Debbie had become a grandmother with the arrival of Atiana Nicole Miranda-Rodriguez, age 5. They shared a close bond given that she was her first grandchild. Debbie was blessed with her second granddaughter, Emerie Elena Molina, age 2, at the age of 40. By the time she was 41 she was welcoming her third granddaughter, Amaiah Marie Rodriguez, age 1, whom she unfortunately was not able to spend much time with given her decline in health.

Debbie was a young mother and supported her many children by spending most of her adult years working hard in retail management. She was her entire family’s backbone, main supporter, best friend and go-to person. She always pushed her children to finish school and to get further in life than she was able to. She was the most selfless person you could ever know. She spent most of her life helping others even when she couldn’t help herself. Family was of utmost importance to her, and she never closed her doors to anyone in need. It’s no wonder why Debbie’s large and extensive family was so full of support during her journey in the hope of finding a cure. She loved to collect Winnie the Pooh and took pride in being spoiled with her collection of Coach purses. She loved to read and watch Harry Potter with her daughter Kyanna. Her favorite color was red, and she asked that her friends and family wear the color in celebration of her life. Debbie spent her final months in and out of the hospital where she met her good friend, Liz Amburn. They shared some of the same health struggles, and having someone to understand what she was going through made their friendship that much more special. At her time of passing, she was sharing her home with her mother, brother, her youngest children, and Felix Montiel, who was like a father figure to her.

Debbie is survived by many family and friends. She is preceded in death by her father, David Allen Riley; her uncle, Michael Anthony (Tony) Riley; her uncle, Butch Riley; her grandmother, Ruth Riley; her grandmother, Reynalda (Nana) Gomez; her uncle, Daniel (Tio Danny) D. Gomez; and her Nana Manuela (Nellie) Hurtado. Debbie’s viewing will be held at Martinez Funeral Chapel on Friday, March 27th, 2020, from 4:30pm-9pm. Her celebration of life has been temporarily postponed and will be held at a later date.