Hermelinda "Erma" Rodriguez, 92, of Topeka, died September 25, 2015 at Autumn Home Plus. She was born in Topeka, Kansas on April 24, 1923,the daughter of Albino and Emeteria (Perez) Cabrera. She worked for 30 years as a Tax Examiner for the State of Kansas. Erma was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Augustinian Recollect, and was a Fiesta Mexicana volunteer. Erma married Benito "Benny" Rodriguez in Topeka on February 22, 1947. He preceded her in death on December 19, 1998. She is survived by a son Rosendo C. (Melissa) Rodriguez of Glastonbury, CT, three daughters, Patricia A. (Andy) Valdivia, Mary Lou (Ronaldo) Escobar and Ana (Richard) Escobar, all of Topeka, five grandchildren, Dominic, Valerie, Matthew, Marcus and Santiago and a great-granddaughter Marisol Tinoco. She was predeceased by four brothers, Porfirio, Reuben, Rosendo and Daniel Cabrera, and a sister, Josephine Arce. Erma will lie in state on Tuesday after 2:00 p.m. at the Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, where the family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A rosary will be prayed at 6:00 p.m. by the Augustinian Recollect followed by the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church or to the Amigos of the Marlo Cuevas-Balandran Activity Center Inc., sent in care of the Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 S.W. 6th Avenue, Topeka, Kansas 66603. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the Autumn Home Plus staff for the special care given to their mother.
