Obituary of Felicita Rodriguez

Felicita "Fela" Rodriguez (nee Davila), 89, of Camden, NJ, peacefully made her transition home to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, on November 6, 2023. 
Fela was a member of Our Lady of Fatima in Camden, NJ, where she found solace and strength in her faith in Jesus Christ.  Our mom will be remembered for her unwavering love, kindness, and generosity. Fela was a pillar of strength and well known in her community. She leaves behind a legacy of compassion and selflessness. May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ receive her into his promised kingdom. Amen! 
Fela was born on November 20, 1933, in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, to the late Jesus Davila and Marsela Torres Davila. She was one of 10 children.
Fela married Victor M. Rodriguez Sr. in 1957 in Puerto Rico. Later that year, they moved to the United States and settled in Camden, NJ. This union produced two children.  Fela was a stay-at-home mom. 
Fela was well known by many as “Dona Fela” or “Mama Fela”. She was a warm and caring mother, wife, and caretaker. “Mama Fela” was given this nickname by the many children who were in her care. Before there was daycare, there was “Mama Fela’s” house on West Street. She nurtured and lovingly took care of her grandchildren; children of family members and 100’s of children from the neighborhood. Parents were at ease knowing they could drop their children off and go to work. They knew their children were safe, well loved and cared for at “Mama Fela’s”.  Fela had two children of her own whom she loved unconditionally.  She raised her sons with the many children she took into her home. The boys felt as though they had 100’s of brothers and sisters. There was always someone to play with. 
One of Felicita's greatest joys was cooking. She was an amazing cook! Fela was famous for her holiday meals, which included Pasteles, Arroz con Gandules, Pernil, Tembleque, bread pudding and many more treats. During the holidays, everyone knew Fela was making the Coquito!  She often prepared meals for entertaining family and people in need. If you were hungry and she knew about it, she made sure you were fed.  In the summer, she delighted the children in the neighborhood with her version of a Hispanic water ice called “limber”. She served various flavors from cherry to coconut. 
Fela also had a love for sewing, gardening, and arts & crafts. She often sewed for others. She was also very handy with a hammer and screwdriver.  Her family gave her a third nickname and called her “MacGyver". She had an uncanny ability to fix and repair things. 
Fela was a friend to everyone. She was a very humble and modest woman. She took great pride in her appearance. You never saw Fela without her hair and nails done, her face flawless and dressed to the 9’s. 
Felicita is survived by her two sons, Edwin and Victor, daughters-in-law Laura and Brenda, stepdaughter Maggie Rodriguez, sisters Francisca, Mary, Lucia, and Eulalia. She was a loving grandmother to Breonna, EJ, Kayla, Derek, Brandon, Francis, Lilly, Lilliana, and Lizandra. Great-grandmother of 9. She was preceded in death by her husband, Victor Rodriguez Sr., brothers Rosendo, Angel, and Eucebio, sisters Santa, and Sixta.
Relatives and friends are invited to the Visitation and Funeral on Friday from 9 to 11 AM at the Falco/Caruso & Leonard Pennsauken Funeral Home, 6600 N. Browning Road where a Funeral Service will be held at 11 AM.  Interment will follow at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Cemetery in Arneytown.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to BrightFocus Foundation, 22512 Gateway Center Drive, Clarksburg, MD 20871, Attn: Alzheimers Research.  Info, condolences and guestbook at www.carusocare.com