Our beloved mother, Carmen Gloria Rodrigues de Valentin, became one of God’s angels at 8:05 p.m., on Friday, April 5, 2024, at age 86, at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, surrounded by her loving family.

Carmen Gloria was born on Nov. 27, 1937, in the mountains of Utuado, Puerto Rico, to her late beloved parents, Obdulio Valentin and Carmen Valentin de Gonzalez, and joined a large family of many brothers, sisters, and cousins. 

At age 23, Carmen Gloria met the love of her life, her future husband, Dr. Louis ‘Lou’ Phillip Rodrigues, in the cafeteria at Long Island College Hospital, while they were going through nursing and medical school, respectively. In their first conversation, Carmen Gloria mistakenly assumed Lou spoke Spanish…and thus began a long life of treasured moments and memories.

Dr. and Mrs. Rodrigues opened a pediatric practice and spent 55 beautiful years together in the Catskill Mountains of Monticello, New York, where they worked as partners and raised their children.

Over the course of more than 40 years, the pair devoted their lives to helping others and providing specialty medical services to over a thousand patients. (Carmen Gloria loved her patients like family—for many years, she held Friday pizza parties to celebrate patients’ birthdays and other special occasions.)  Carmen Gloria was also a devoted nurse who worked with veterans at Castle Point Hospital and Montrose Hospital, both in New York State, where she also brought ‘her veterans’ goodies each Friday.

Throughout her life, Carmen Gloria volunteered with the Civil Air Patrol and Red Cross, including in New York City in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

In God’s perfect plan, Dr. and Mrs. Rodrigues came to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to visit their daughter in 2020, and made the decision to make their stay at the coast permanent. Carmen Gloria’s final years were spent among sunshine, sea air, and those she loved. 

Carmen Gloria is survived by her husband, Dr. Louis ‘Lou’ Phillip Rodrigues, her son, Louis Joaqim Rodrigues, her daughters, Linda Elizabeth Alonso Rodrigues and Judith ‘Judy’ Marie Skordinski Rodrigues, and her grandchildren, Dom Luis Rodrigues, Autumn Chelsee Rodrigues, Kyle Austin Skordinski, Lexi Marie Skordinski, and great-grandson, Emilio Jay Rodrigues. She leaves behind many devoted friends and a large, loving extended family.

Services will be held at Burroughs Funeral Home at 3558 Old Kings Hwy., Murrells Inlet, SC 29576. The viewing will be held on Thursday, April 11, 2024, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The funeral mass will be held on Friday, April 12, 2024, at 2:00pm. A burial will follow. Loved ones who attend the services are invited to wear Carmen Gloria’s favorite color, pink.

For further information please call 845-434-7363 or visit www.colonialfamilyfuneralhome.com.