Ruben Rodriguez Sr., age 79, passed away Sunday, May 6, 2018 in his sleep, at Rio Pinar Healthcare, Orlando, Florida.

He was born on November 20, 1938 in Guayanilla, Puerto Rico en el Barrio Pasto; to the late Santiago Rodriguez and Blacina Saez  and he moved to Vineland, New Jersey in the early 1960's. He was married to former ex-wife Elba Ines Santiago and mother of his three children Minerva Castro, Jeanette Barber and Ruben Rodriguez Jr. He was employed at Progresso Quality Foods in Vineland, NJ for 33 years and retired at 64 years old. He spent most of his life in Vineland, NJ where all his family lived. He enjoyed visiting his mother and older sister America every day after work.

He also enjoyed gardening and spending time with family and friends. He devoted his life to working and providing for his children. In his last 18 years he shared his life with his domestic partner Nereida Rivera who cared for him. Ruben is survived by his three children Minerva Castro and her husband Carlos R. Castro and Jeanette Barber and Ruben Rodriguez Jr. and his fiancé Jeanette Arocho; four grandchildren Catrina, Billy, Dominique and Jared and one great-grandchild Miguel.  Surviving brothers and sisters Luis Rodriguez and sister in-law Lydia, Nelson Rodriguez and sister in-law Leonar, Santiago Rodriguez and sister in-law Rafaela, Eligio Rodriguez and sister in-law Teresa, America Mercado and brother in-law Carlos Mercado, and Maria Mercado and brother in-law Jaime Mercado; as well as many nieces, nephews and the Rivera family.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, May 12th at Divine Mercy Parish, 23 W. Chestnut Ave. Vineland.  Interment will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Vineland.  Family and friends may gather on Friday evening from 7:00-9:00 pm at the Wainwright-Bernhardt Funeral Home, 1024 E. Landis Ave. Vineland, and again on Saturday morning from 9:00-10:15 am at the CHURCH.

Please visit www.wbfuneralhome.com to share condolences with the family.

Arrangements are in the care of Wainwright-Bernhardt Funeral Home, Vineland.