Grandma Eva and Grandpa Henry’s Funeral Services

On November 22nd, 2023, our grandparents Genevieve Rodriguez, 80, and Henry Irizarry, 75, were murdered in their own home in Naguabo, Puerto Rico. Grandma Eva and Grandpa Henry were, and still are, cherished and beloved by all of us. The cruelty and magnitude of this crime has devastated our family. The fact that they were taken from us early and unfairly is painful beyond expression.

Grandma Eva and Grandpa Henry were born in the United States and worked there until retirement. Grandpa Henry served his country in the Vietnam War, and carried shrapnel in his arm from a grenade that went off in the line of duty. In 2005, they retired and moved to their residence in Naguabo, which was their paradise until their home was invaded and incinerated on the night of their murder. Seeing the names of our grandparents in print as details are released to the local news is surreal.

Grandma Eva and Grandpa Henry valued the company of their family above all else. In their lives, they were selflessly generous, stepping forward to help their family in times of need and never asking us for anything in return. Being in the presence of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren was enough. They offered us compassion, acceptance, wisdom, joy, and of course, love, all unconditionally. They were our foundations, and now our family is left to grapple with the weight of their absence and the circumstances of their death.

We have set up this fund so Grandma Eva and Grandpa Henry’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren can fly out to Puerto Rico where their funerals will be held. We will need funds to cover airfare, lodging, travel to and from the location of the services, and other expenses associated with the arrangements. The cost of these travel arrangements is yet another burden in this difficult time and we are seeking donations to offset the price and lost wages for the duration of the services, as some of our jobs do not offer paid bereavement leave.

We express our gratitude, from the bottom of our hearts, to all those generous enough to contribute and share our story in our time of great need. Among those expressing this gratitude are Alex Cordero Jr., Elizabeth Kadlec-Cordero, Steven and Isaac Cordero, Nancy and Ocean Velez-Lombardi, Alex Cordero III., Miranda, Savannah and Romeo Cordero, Brittany, Ian, Keltin, and Kyra Mohr, Whit, Marie, and Emma Lukas-Cordero, Vanessa, Jack, Oliver and Ava Dickinson, many of whom are depicted in this photograph with our Grandma Eva in a family gathering four months before her death.