Zoila "Penny" Rodriguez Obituary (1945 - 2025)

Zoila “Penny” Rodriguez was born on December 5, 1945, and she passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on July 17, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer. Penny was born to Francisco Rodriguez and Dolores Covos in Harlingen, TX. At the age of 7, Penny’s family moved to Omaha, NE, where her uncles worked for Union Pacific Railroad. Penny grew up, raised a family of her own, and lived in Omaha for over 52 years. Penny was never afraid of hard work. She got her first job at the age of 14 and she worked at Quaker Oats Chemical in Omaha for over 28 years. Penny had three children and after her son joined the army, Penny and her youngest daughter moved to Iowa City to live with her oldest daughter in 2004. Penny worked in food service at UIHC until her retirement in 2020, and she continued to live with her oldest daughter in Coralville, IA, up until her passing. Penny was a strong, independent, single mother of Jacqueline “Jackie” Hungate, Andrea “Andi” Hungate, and Adam Rodriguez. Penny always put the needs of her children before her own and her strong work ethic still thrives in each of them to this very day. Andi was always teased as being her “favorite” as Penny provided all of the love and care that Andi’s special needs required. However, Penny loved all of her children dearly and she made each of them feel like they were her “favorite” in her own special way. Jackie was her “mija”, her daughter and best friend, with whom she lived, shopped, dined, confided in, and shared everyday life. Adam was her “baby boy” and she beamed with pride when she talked about his successful journey in the military as well as his wife and kids. She welcomed Adam’s wife, Christiane, into her family and she enjoyed her video calls and all of her visits with her grandbabies, Lukas and Benjamin. Penny loved to bargain shop, visit with friends and family, watch football, and dine out for dinner. She spoke her mind without a filter which was often part of her sense of humor. Penny was funny--she loved to laugh and she loved to make others laugh with her. Her smile and her laughter will always be remembered, and she will forever hold a special place in the hearts of her friends and family who loved her dearly. Zoila “Penny” is survived by her oldest daughter Jacqueline Hungate, her son Adam Rodriguez and his wife Christiane, and her beloved grandsons Lukas and Benjamin. Preceding her in death are her brothers Roy Covos and Jesse Garcia and her daughter Andrea “Andi” Hungate. There will be no services at this time at Penny’s request. In lieu of flowers, her family requests that donations can be made to Essence of Life Hospice and Systems Unlimited.