Arely Ximena Rodriguez was born on November 14, 2006, to Jose Juan and Aracely Rodriguez.

From early on you could tell this was a very special little girl. Little did she know that she would be such an example of love to those in her community, family, and to her beloved friends.

A well-known verse.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.----1 Corinthians 13:4-7

This quote portrays the way Arely carried herself.

Her wish was to be a doctor; little did she know that she was a doctor to those she left behind. Her smile, honesty, nobility, simple yet caring manner, tender loving heart, touched many souls around her.

She never hesitated to share her toys with her young playmates, friends and family. It didn't matter if she was happy she was there to be sure you were happy. She was well known for handing out kisses and hugs to those she loved and even to those she didn't know as well.

Early on she spent many days with her Aunt Miriam and Uncle Saul before they were blessed with a young boy. Her aunt was another mother to her and many memories did they share, from hairstyles and fashion to a little cousin who kept her busy.

You can find her love for food and fellowship in many photos. She loved tamales and Mrs. Hargrove's brownies. Arely was always up for cooking and was never a picky eater.

Although not a difficult child she was often was accused of being the "boss" of the household. She was always sure to keep the family on track. Her father was so impressed with how she took care of "her ninos", translated to "her children". One early morning she opened the curtains in her parent's room and announced to her mother that "It's time to get up, your night is over". As far as a little sister, the boys can tell you there was no one better who played that part, loving but firm and definitely the "boss". A favorite pastime was Barbie's and babies, Candy Crush, Wii Sports and shared giggles with her girlfriends from school. Arely lived life to the fullest every day. She had a love for nature and found much beauty in flowers. One Christmas she even asked Santa to bring her mom flowers because there were none to be found in the month of December.

The "boss" also monitored cookie intake making sure no one was getting too greedy and that everyone had a chance to get a bite. She loved being able to help get coffee ready and often was found asking everyone if they wanted cream and sugar. On one of the last visits though she gave up on the prayer goers and told them "you guys need to get your own sugar and cream today."

Often you could hear Arely singing along to the songs of "Frozen". Some of her favorite songs were songs from church along with Christmas music. She danced like no one was watching. She got her brother Kevin to help build forts with her. Her puppy, Snow, was often at her heals licking and loving on her and crashing down the forts she built with Kevin!

At school you could find her following the rules, being kind to others and never giving any type of trouble. Below are memories from her favorite teachers and how she was remembered as a student and friend:

I had the pleasure of teaching Arely for two years. She was an absolute doll! During those years I learned how special Arely truly is. She was always soft-spoken and kind to all her peers and teachers. She was always caring and never got angry. She was very intelligent and always eager to learn. One of my favorite memories of Arely was her preschool graduation. As many people know Arely got very nervous around large crowds. She was near tears as we were waiting for our ceremony to begin. I pulled her aside and told her that everyone was so proud of her accomplishments and that mom and dad wanted to see her graduate. I also shared with Arely that I was nervous too. I told her that I hate getting in front of people and talking into a microphone. I asked if she could help me be brave too. Together we battled the crowd and she did amazing! I only remember her beautiful smile as she performed. Arely touched so many lives in such a short amount of time. I feel extremely blessed to have been a part of her life. -- Billie Freiberger, Preschool Teacher

Sweet, sweet Arely...a little girl that lit up a room when she walked in. Her smile and sweet voice had all of us loving her and she loved all of us in return. One thing that stands out in my mind about Arely is her love for her mama. All children love their moms, but if Arely had it her way, she would have spent 24 hours a day 7 days a week with that sweet mama of hers. Arely always did everything she was asked and did it well AND...when she turned in her work, she would give me a hug and kiss as she walked by! Arely and I had a special bond because we both had a passion for dancing, and that little girl could dance! It brings a smile to my face just thinking about her shimmying at the spring program. Each morning, Arely and I would compare our fashion for the day, but she always won the contest! She was dressed perfectly from her beautiful braids to her matching shoes! I feel very blessed to have been a part of Arley's life, and although I was her teacher, she taught me many lessons in love and compassion! What a beautiful little girl! --Brenda Hargrove-Kindergarten Teacher

Arely was a model student; the kind teachers dream of having. She had a true passion for school and hated it whenever she had to miss! She was very bright and loved each and every subject; especially Music and Art! She enjoyed reading and looked forward to going to the nursing home every Thursday to read to her buddies. Arely was hardworking, very meticulous about her work, and took great pride in doing her best. When she walked through the door each morning, her smile would light up the room! There wasn't a single day that went by that she didn't have a hug, kiss, and an "I love you" for me. As a matter of fact, I was usually blessed enough to get several throughout each day! Her beautiful attitude was infectious and her classmates absolutely adored her! Her sense of fashion and creative hairstyles were the topic of conversation each morning amongst the girls, although the boys weren't equally as impressed! Despite her small size, Arely's heart was huge and though only here for 7 short years, she gave enough love for a lifetime. She left footprints on my heart that will remain forever.--Julie Tate 1st Grade Teacher

But Jesus asked the children to come to him. "Let the little children come to Me." he said. "Don't keep them away, God's kingdom belongs to people like them. What I'm about to tell you is true. Anyone who will not receive God's kingdom like a little child will never enter it." Luke 18:16-17

Contributions in memory of Arely may be made to Jose or Aracely Rodriguez and taken or mailed to any Frontier Bank location.