Monique Elizabeth Mcmullen Rodriguez

Monique Elizabeth McMullen Rodriguez passed away early on Tuesday morning May 7, 2019, after many years of complications from battling with a brain tumor, a meningioma, she had since 1977.
Monique was born in Boston, Massachusetts to Harry Eldon McMullen and Harriet Elizabeth Thompson. Her family moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin so her father could teach French and Humanities at the Eau Claire State Teachers College and Monique had fond memories of her time growing up in a big old house there.
Education was very important to her family and she went to boarding school at Emma Willard in New York. The hobbies she had at Emma Willard included fencing, cheerleading, baton twirling, theatre and just having fun.
After Monique’s father passed away when she was 17, she and her family moved to Somerset, New Jersey, moving close to a beloved Uncle Mux and Aunt Marian, and her two cousins William and Charles whom she loved to laugh with.
Not long afterwards, she began college at Queens College in North Carolina.  Spending a year back at home in New Jersey, working nights at a hospital, she met some missionaries and became interested in the LDS church. She was baptized and transferred to BYU, with a major in history. One semester shy of getting her degree, she knew she needed to go into nursing.
As a student nurse, she went to Guatemala for a summer. Quite an adventure since she didn’t speak any Spanish, she had people on her bus watching out for her. A huge culture shock, and unsure of how to help any of the people, she was sometimes paid for medical treatment with a live chicken, unsure of what to do with it. Little did she know that her heart would forever be tied to the people of the small town of Cunen, Guatemala. She nursed in different specialties: psychiatry, labor & delivery, and the ER, after graduating from BYU.
After Monique’s first two children were born, the family moved to Guatemala. She loved the time she spent there, doing as much as she could to help the people she knew, as well as strangers. Monique was diagnosed with her brain tumor, a meningioma, immediately after her youngest was born. She remained in Guatemala after her first surgery, but the family eventually moved to Salt Lake City, for additional medical care, where she lived the remainder of her life.
Monique refused to be defined by the limitations of her brain tumor. She sacrificed a lot to spend time with her children and support them as their biggest cheerleader. In addition to the various activities of her children, she was a member of several book clubs, luncheon groups, and loved to garden. Monique’s favorite passion was cooking and trying new recipes.  Her favorite spot to go with her friends and family was to the canyon for a cookout.
Monique’s absolute joy was her grandchildren. Thinking she would never be able to see them, she treasured the moments she had with them, and loved watching them grow and the music and dance performances and artwork they would share with her.
Monique was a very determined lady who just didn’t give up although she had numerous obstacles.  She loved to laugh and be silly, and make the most of every minute, never knowing how many she had. She befriended many and made them family, and she was a hero to so many people.
She is survived by her two brothers, Wallace McMullen and Kelly Andre McMullen (Charlotte), Daughter Nidia McMullen (Dave Leone), Son Kelly McMullen (Amy), Son Scott Rodriguez; Grandchildren Tatumn Jerdon, Abby McMullen, Ian McMullen, Britton McMullen, Larek Rodriguez and Bluekel Rodriguez. She is preceded in death by her parents, Harry Eldon McMullen and Harriett Elizabeth Thompson.
Funeral Services will be held on Monday May 7, 2019 at 11:00 AM at Olympus Stake Center (Pagoda Building), 2675 East 4430 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84124. A viewing will be held prior to funeral services from 9:30 AM-10:45 AM. Interment will be at Mountain View Memorial Estates Cemetery 3115 East 7800 South, Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121.
Service Information
Viewing May 13, 2019 at 9:30 - 10:45 AM
Olympus Stake Center, 2675 East 4430 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84124





Funeral Service
May 13, 2019 at 11:00 AM
Olympus Stake Center, 2675 East 4430 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84124