Matthew Rodriguez’s Funeral Set For Monday in Fairhaven

Funeral services for U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Matthew Rodriguez are scheduled for 10am Monday morning at the First Congregational Church, located at 34 Center Street, Fairhaven.  The Rodriguez family is respectfully requesting people attending the funeral mass be limited to family and close friends due to the building’s capacity.

Fairhaven Police will have Center Street shut down from Main Street to Green Street beginning at 9am.  Funeral parking only will be permitted in this area for the duration of the service.  William Street will also be shut down from Washington Street to Center Street with the same restriction.

Fairhaven Police are welcoming people to stand with flags along Washington Street east to Route 6, and along Rte 6 to Rte 240. They are asking that people not show up at the church because there is no parking near the church. Please avoid Fairhaven Center unless you are attending the funeral.

There will be six SRTA buses available for anyone wishing to attend the graveside service at the NationalCemetery in Bourne.  Buses will be parked in front of the Millicent Library on Center Street and will offer a free shuttle service to and from the cemetery for everyone wishing to attend.  After the graveside service, buses will return to the library where passengers will disembark to return to their vehicles.

Everyone is asked to find a space to legally park their vehicle and walk to the church.

All members of the media covering the Rodriguez funeral are asked to maintain a respectable distance from the family and the services.  There will be designated areas available to the press covering the event.  They will be located on the northwest lawn of the Millicent Library and the southwest lawn of the Fairhaven Town Hall.  Unfortunately due to the location of the church, there will be no parking available.  Reporters, camera operators, etc. will have to walk to the designate areas and find their own legal parking space.  All are respectfully asked to plan accordingly.

Here is a video of Matthew Rodriguez’s remains arriving the New Bedford Airport and the procession passing through Fairhaven. Photos can be seen here.

United States Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew R. Rodriguez, 19, of Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Rodriguez died on December 11, 2013 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. More details: http://www.newbedfordguide.com/new-bedford-fairhaven-to-honor-return-of-fallen-marine/2013/12/18.

Thanks to the Fairhaven Police Department and Dorene St. G for the information!