Obituary for Jeremy Ramon Rodriguez
March 3, 2023
My brother, our brother Jeremy is BELOVED. I have spent some time this week thinking about the definition of the word “beloved.” I thought to myself: “Jeremy is truly beloved.” I looked up the meaning and read: “greatly loved; dear to the heart. A person who is very much loved.” I now have a new appreciation for this word because it truly describes how we all feel about Jeremy. How could you not love Jeremy? As he would often say to me, “They love me kid, can you blame them?”
Jeremy Ramon Rodriguez was born on June 25, 1971 as Twin B along with my sister Stephanie, Twin A to my parents Ramon and Milagros Rodriguez. My mother tells a story that she didn’t know she was having twins. The doctor would poke her belly and feel either the largest baby imaginable or in fact, two babies. She might have failed to mention to the doctor that her own father was a twin. My mother never forgets to add the most touching part of this story, she didn’t know she was having twins because of the way they were positioned. The doctor only heard Stephanie and Jeremy’s ONE heartbeat.
Jeremy is my big brother and Elizabeth’s little brother. He is father to Ashley, David, Brandon, and Jeremy Jr. He is uncle to Matthew, Aaron, Daniel, Amanda, Jonathan, and Olivia. He is nephew to Nellie and Ben Fernandez and cousin to Benito and Solomon. He is nephew to Rufino Rodriguez and cousin to Bernie. Jeremy is also so much to so many people.
Jeremy was the friend you asked to be the godfather to your child. He was the phone call you made at 3am when you had a flat tire and were stranded on the side of the road. You knew you could always count on Jeremy. My brother was the electrician you called to install new light fixtures in your basement because you knew that he took pride in his work. He was available to drive you or pick you up from the airport. Jeremy was the neighbor ready to use his snow blower to plow your driveway without any questions asked. Jeremy was the friend that couldn’t wait for the weather to be nice so that he could take a ride with you on his motorcycle up to the “Rock” or Bear Mountain. He was always ready with a joke or one of his catchphrases. He always seemed to have the right advice at the right moments.
Jeremy loved a fresh haircut, that mustache of his that was always neatly trimmed, new sneakers, collecting tools that would make the job easier, his motorcycles, his cars, his never-ending search to find the perfect headphones to hear his all-time favorite song, “We Are the World.” He told us that once while
speeding down the road he was blasting and singing “We are the World” when he was pulled over on the highway. The police officer questioned why he was speeding and he told the truth: “Sir, I’m sorry. I was in the zone singing my favorite song ‘We are the World.’ I didn’t even realize I was speeding.” The police officer smiled, shook his head and let him go. I’d like to think that police officer saw what we all saw in Jeremy…his truly kind and beautiful spirit. Can you blame him? I can hear him now telling me “Like that, you’re telling them about my song? Like that?”
Jeremy called me his “Little Sister.” No matter how old I got, he would introduce me as his “little sister.” He also called me “Kid.” He called me one day and said “Kid, after work let’s go to the Yamaha dealership. There’s a scooter that you’re going to love. It’s all automatic.” I explained to him that I did not have a motorcycle license. What could I possibly do with a scooter? His response to me was “You worry too much.” We drove to Yamaha and yes, I did fall in love with that scooter. It looked like a prop out of the Batman movie. Before you knew it, I was signing on the dotted line and he was helping me pick out a helmet. On the day we picked up the scooter, I drove behind him on the way home. I couldn’t help but feel HIS excitement as he broke in the new bike on the highway. I shook my head and said to myself: “I just bought Jeremy a scooter. A very expensive one.” I never dreamed that I would want to ride motorcycles but I did get my license so that I could ride with him. I wanted to share at least one moment riding to Bear Mountain and one day that’s exactly what we did. By the way, he rode behind me to slow down traffic…always protecting his Little Sister.
On behalf of my mother, Elizabeth, Stephanie and the rest of the family we want to thank you. Thank you for loving Jeremy. Thank you for being his extended family and treasured friends. Thank you for your support and for helping us get through this immeasurable pain. I hope that when you think of Jeremy you’ll remember his kindness, humor, and loyalty. I hope that you will continue to consider us as your family too. Thank you, Jeremy. We love you.
Heather Lynn Rodriguez
The family wishes to acknowledge with deep appreciation the many expressions of love, concern and kindness shown to them during this hour of bereavement. Thank you for all of your support, love, encouragement, and prayers.
The Rodriguez and Fernandez family are utterly grateful. Mother Milagros, Sisters Elizabeth, Stephanie Anne and Heather Lynn; along with Jeremy’s children Ashley, David, Brandon and Jeremy Jr; Loving Aunt Nellie, Uncle Ben and cousins Benito James and Benito Solomon.
First Reading…………………………………………Calla Orjuela
Isaiah 25: 6a, 7-9
A reading from the Book of the prophet Isaiah.
On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, The web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death for ever. The Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces; The reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the Lord has spoken. On that day it will be said: “Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the Lord for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!” The word of the Lord. ________________________________________________________
Second Reading……………………………Heather Lynn Rodriguez
2 Corinthians 4:14 – 5:1
A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.
Brothers and Sisters: Knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us al so with Jesus and place us with you in his presence. Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God. Therefore, we are not discouraged; rather, although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal. For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven. The word of the Lord.
THE DASH
I read of a man who stood to speak At the funeral of a friend He referred to the dates on the tombstone From the beginning...to the end He noted that first came the date of birth And spoke the following date with tears, But he said what mattered most of all Was the dash between those years For that dash represents all the time That they spent alive on earth. And now only those who loved them Know what that little line is worth For it matters not, how much we own, The cars...the house...the cash. What matters is how we live and love And how we spend our dash.
BY LINDA ELLIS
My brother, our brother Jeremy is BELOVED. I have spent some time this week thinking about the definition of the word “beloved.” I thought to myself: “Jeremy is truly beloved.” I looked up the meaning and read: “greatly loved; dear to the heart. A person who is very much loved.” I now have a new appreciation for this word because it truly describes how we all feel about Jeremy. How could you not love Jeremy? As he would often say to me, “They love me kid, can you blame them?”
Jeremy Ramon Rodriguez was born on June 25, 1971 as Twin B along with my sister Stephanie, Twin A to my parents Ramon and Milagros Rodriguez. My mother tells a story that she didn’t know she was having twins. The doctor would poke her belly and feel either the largest baby imaginable or in fact, two babies. She might have failed to mention to the doctor that her own father was a twin. My mother never forgets to add the most touching part of this story, she didn’t know she was having twins because of the way they were positioned. The doctor only heard Stephanie and Jeremy’s ONE heartbeat.
Jeremy is my big brother and Elizabeth’s little brother. He is father to Ashley, David, Brandon, and Jeremy Jr. He is uncle to Matthew, Aaron, Daniel, Amanda, Jonathan, and Olivia. He is nephew to Nellie and Ben Fernandez and cousin to Benito and Solomon. He is nephew to Rufino Rodriguez and cousin to Bernie. Jeremy is also so much to so many people.
Jeremy was the friend you asked to be the godfather to your child. He was the phone call you made at 3am when you had a flat tire and were stranded on the side of the road. You knew you could always count on Jeremy. My brother was the electrician you called to install new light fixtures in your basement because you knew that he took pride in his work. He was available to drive you or pick you up from the airport. Jeremy was the neighbor ready to use his snow blower to plow your driveway without any questions asked. Jeremy was the friend that couldn’t wait for the weather to be nice so that he could take a ride with you on his motorcycle up to the “Rock” or Bear Mountain. He was always ready with a joke or one of his catchphrases. He always seemed to have the right advice at the right moments.
Jeremy loved a fresh haircut, that mustache of his that was always neatly trimmed, new sneakers, collecting tools that would make the job easier, his motorcycles, his cars, his never-ending search to find the perfect headphones to hear his all-time favorite song, “We Are the World.” He told us that once while
speeding down the road he was blasting and singing “We are the World” when he was pulled over on the highway. The police officer questioned why he was speeding and he told the truth: “Sir, I’m sorry. I was in the zone singing my favorite song ‘We are the World.’ I didn’t even realize I was speeding.” The police officer smiled, shook his head and let him go. I’d like to think that police officer saw what we all saw in Jeremy…his truly kind and beautiful spirit. Can you blame him? I can hear him now telling me “Like that, you’re telling them about my song? Like that?”
Jeremy called me his “Little Sister.” No matter how old I got, he would introduce me as his “little sister.” He also called me “Kid.” He called me one day and said “Kid, after work let’s go to the Yamaha dealership. There’s a scooter that you’re going to love. It’s all automatic.” I explained to him that I did not have a motorcycle license. What could I possibly do with a scooter? His response to me was “You worry too much.” We drove to Yamaha and yes, I did fall in love with that scooter. It looked like a prop out of the Batman movie. Before you knew it, I was signing on the dotted line and he was helping me pick out a helmet. On the day we picked up the scooter, I drove behind him on the way home. I couldn’t help but feel HIS excitement as he broke in the new bike on the highway. I shook my head and said to myself: “I just bought Jeremy a scooter. A very expensive one.” I never dreamed that I would want to ride motorcycles but I did get my license so that I could ride with him. I wanted to share at least one moment riding to Bear Mountain and one day that’s exactly what we did. By the way, he rode behind me to slow down traffic…always protecting his Little Sister.
On behalf of my mother, Elizabeth, Stephanie and the rest of the family we want to thank you. Thank you for loving Jeremy. Thank you for being his extended family and treasured friends. Thank you for your support and for helping us get through this immeasurable pain. I hope that when you think of Jeremy you’ll remember his kindness, humor, and loyalty. I hope that you will continue to consider us as your family too. Thank you, Jeremy. We love you.
Heather Lynn Rodriguez
The family wishes to acknowledge with deep appreciation the many expressions of love, concern and kindness shown to them during this hour of bereavement. Thank you for all of your support, love, encouragement, and prayers.
The Rodriguez and Fernandez family are utterly grateful. Mother Milagros, Sisters Elizabeth, Stephanie Anne and Heather Lynn; along with Jeremy’s children Ashley, David, Brandon and Jeremy Jr; Loving Aunt Nellie, Uncle Ben and cousins Benito James and Benito Solomon.
First Reading…………………………………………Calla Orjuela
Isaiah 25: 6a, 7-9
A reading from the Book of the prophet Isaiah.
On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, The web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death for ever. The Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces; The reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the Lord has spoken. On that day it will be said: “Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the Lord for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!” The word of the Lord. ________________________________________________________
Second Reading……………………………Heather Lynn Rodriguez
2 Corinthians 4:14 – 5:1
A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.
Brothers and Sisters: Knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us al so with Jesus and place us with you in his presence. Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God. Therefore, we are not discouraged; rather, although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal. For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven. The word of the Lord.
THE DASH
I read of a man who stood to speak At the funeral of a friend He referred to the dates on the tombstone From the beginning...to the end He noted that first came the date of birth And spoke the following date with tears, But he said what mattered most of all Was the dash between those years For that dash represents all the time That they spent alive on earth. And now only those who loved them Know what that little line is worth For it matters not, how much we own, The cars...the house...the cash. What matters is how we live and love And how we spend our dash.
BY LINDA ELLIS