DEVOUT, DEVOTED TO FAMILY SUSANA RODRIGUEZ WAS STRONG, 'PIONEER' RANCH MOTHER.

Byline: Holly J. Andres Staff Writer

Strong in character and devout in her Christian faith, Canoga Park resident Susana Rodriguez was a hard-working, resourceful woman who was an inspiration for her family. Rodriguez died Jan. 10 from pneumonia. She was 96.

``She was a strong woman, like a pioneer type of woman. So honest, so religious, so loving and so happy with a simple way of life,'' daughter Angelina Ochoa said. ``She was so ladylike. She always carried a little handkerchief; she wore her veil to church and carried her rosary.''

Rodriguez was a member of Las Guadalupanas, a women's prayer and social group devoted to the Virgin of Guadalupe at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, for more than 40 years.

``Her faith was very important to her. She would do a one-hour prayer every night. She told us that faith was like a guide,'' said son Alfonso ``Al'' Rodriguez. ``She taught us self- reliance, the work ethic and respect for other people. Family and faith were her passions.''

Her children attribute their mother's long life to her positive outlook, staying active and always planning for future get-togethers with her family and friends.

Rodriguez was an accomplished home cook. Her family savored the results of her culinary skills she learned in Mexico, tortillas and salsas - and the Anglo-American dishes - pot roast, pie, cookies, biscuits - that she learned to cook from the wives of ranchers when she lived as a newlywed in Wyoming. Her tamales, chicken and sweets at Christmastime were her specialties.

Susana Camarillo was born Aug. 11, 1909, to Blas and Macaria Camarillo in Huanimaro, Guanajuato, Mexico, the eldest of six children. She met Aristeo Rodriguez in 1928 and they eventually married and came to the United States.

Rodriguez, known as Chana, was 18 when she married. The couple worked on ranches in Powell, Wyo., when they were first married. Speaking no English, Rodriguez felt like she had ``landed on the moon,'' said Rodriguez when he recalled his mother's memories of ranch life.

After the deaths of two infant daughters, the family moved in 1935 to Piru, and settled in 1940 in Canoga Park.

Rodriguez, later remembered for her favored perfume ``Maja,'' harvested beets in Wyoming and walnuts and citrus fruits in Ventura County and in the west San Fernando Valley.

She loved to sit in her parklike yard filled with fruit trees, rose bushes and potted flowers, and watching telenovelas or listening to Mexican ranchera music.

``She always said, 'make sure the table had a tablecloth on it.' Something she also said was to make sure the children eat first,'' Ochoa said of her mother. ``She told us to stay strong, love one another, to treat everybody good and go to church. She was like no other.''

Rodriguez is survived by her sons, Aristeo, Alfred, Alfonso and Arthur; and a daughter, Angelina Ochoa; 20 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Two daughters, Carolina and Angelina died in infancy. Her husband, Aristeo Rodriguez, died in 1982.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Tuesday at Our Lady of the Valley Roman Catholic Church in Canoga Park. Rodriguez was buried at San Fernando Mission Cemetery.

Holly Andres, [phone]

holly.andres(at)dailynews.com

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