Honor Mandy by Supporting Her Family

Amanda “Mandy” Colby Rodriguez went to Heaven on January 23, 2025, at Faith Presbyterian Hospice in Dallas, Texas, at 12:59 p.m. following a courageous, two-year fight with TNBC breast cancer. This is the most aggressive and rapid form of breast cancer. Mandy was only 41 years old and went through more than eight rounds of chemo, several rounds of radiation, and participated in clinical trials at MD Anderson to fight like hell for a chance to successfully beat cancer and to raise her two young daughters. Watching a young mom prepare audio messages and notes for her daughters' major life milestones that she would not be present at was heart wrenching. She wrote messages for their 13th and 16th birthday, first date, 18th birthday, graduation, wedding day and the birth of their first child. No mother, yet alone at 41 years old, should have to do this. Up until the end, she was concerned with leaving her husband and daughters drained financially, emotionally and spiritually. She always worried about others; she was one of a kind.

Mandy has always been hardworking and a fighter. She put herself through college at Tarleton University where she met Anthony. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education. As a child, Mandy struggled in school and wanted to be a teacher to help other children excel. She was a teacher at Barron Elementary with Plano Independent School District for nine years, before teaching in Dallas Independent School District for five years. Mandy took great pride in her work and worked up until two months before her passing. Throughout her career in education, she forged many friendships that lasted her lifetime, and she loved her job and coworkers.

With all these medical treatments and a week in facility hospice, her family will inherit a lot of medical bills. The goal is to try to help lessen the financial burden but also raise money to invest in her girls' post-high school plans.

Mandy's Celebration of Life Ceremony will be at Cottonwood Creek in Allen, Texas, on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel. Please come honor a wonderful lady. She has requested everyone wear pink, her favorite color. Mandy requested no flowers in her honor; she preferred a donation in her name for medical and celebration costs and money to be invested for her daughters’ post-high school plans.

Thank you, Cyndi Kelly, for suggesting this fundraiser to help my family.

Whoever reads this, please feel free to share. Mandy loved the Lord with her whole heart and left her life in His hands.