Gabriel Haro Rodriguez

Gabriel Haro Rodriguez was born in East Los Angeles, California on March 27, 1941 to Pedro and Eulalia (Haro) Rodriguez. Gabriel was one of six; he had four brothers and one sister. For his elementary years he attended Soledad Catholic School, then went on to Belvedere Junior High and finished his formal education at Garfield High School.



At the age of 10, Gabriel spotted the lovely Diana Torres who was just 7 years old at the time. Her blue dress and matching shoes caught his eye and won his heart on the spot. Nothing occurred at the first meeting, but the two ran into each other a few years later while Diana was in a wedding party and Gabriel was assisting the limousine driver. One year later, on August 18, 1962, just a few months after the two attended prom together, they were married. The couple raised a family of four children and enjoyed married life for over fifty years together.



For his professional life, Gabriel worked as an assembler for General Motors for thirty years. His career undoubtedly gave him some groundwork for his passion for naming every make, model and year of the vintage cars on the road. Additionally, his work ethic earned him deep respect with his coworkers and employers.



Organization was a deep character trait of Gabriel. From his closet organizational system and crisply pressed clothes to his skills of ushering people at church, he had a deep love for order. Other hobbies that captivated his attention were deep sea fishing, war history and documentaries, gardening and simply being out in nature. Many of his outdoor adventures would be with church functions in Bridgeport CA, Big Bear or just going fishing off the pier in Long Beach. He especially had a love for Jazz music which began as early as the 8th grade. He cultivated his music enjoyment with other artists such as Ramsey Lewis, Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Duke Ellington & Ella Fitzgerald. Whatever he did though, he had a smile on his face while he did it.



He and his family were involved in Palm View Assembly of God Church and since 1999 have been actively involved in Faith Pointe Foursquare Church in Pico Rivera, California. As was mentioned earlier, he was a devoted usher for the church and also assisted with the bus ministry, camping trips and many other church functions during his involvement there. His kindness and dedication to the church endeared many people to him and undoubtedly his smile on Sunday mornings will be greatly missed.



Finally, Gabriel loved his family. He and his brothers and sister were very close, and of course his wife and four children were his world.



On Monday, April 8, 2013 at 11:10am Gabriel was called home to be with his Savior after a rapid and difficult battle with cancer. His family, though deeply grieved at his passing, takes comfort that he is in the presence of Christ Jesus his Savior, and is also reunited with his parents, Pedro and Eulalia, his mother-in-law Frances Torres, and his brothers Peter and Francisco Kiko Rodriguez who had all preceded him in death.



Gabriel leaves behind his loving wife Diana of over fifty years, his four children, Gabriel, Stephanie, Adriane and Dione Rodriguez, his five grandchildren, Alexis Ramirez, Jordynn Salone, Chloe Rodriguez, Jaelynn Jackson, and Ava Rodriguez, (all girls!), his sister Lupe Rodriguez, two of his brothers, Leonard and Steven Rodriguez, and many nieces, nephews, friends, coworkers and adopted family members.



Gabriels family deeply appreciates your kindness and prayers during this difficult time.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that you make any donations to the American Cancer Society in Gabriels name.