Belleville East High School honors beloved classmate, friend who passed away this week

From the outfield of the Belleville East Lancers softball field, hundreds of students, friends and family released balloons in honor of their fellow classmate and softball player, Maddison “Maddi” Rodriguez.

Rodriquez, a senior at Belleville East High School, died Sunday after her car rolled over on a country road near Freeburg, authorities said.

She was a beloved member of the Belleville East softball team and friend to many.

“She just had this way of making everybody else feel loved,” said Belleville East Softball Coach Natalie Peters “I just hope that you can find comfort in knowing how much she loved each and everyone of you.”

Rodriguez had been a member of Zion Lutheran Church since she was baptized there in 2004.

“She is going to leave a hole in her family, in this school, in her classes, in her team, in our youth group, in our church to anybody that new or loved her,” said Kerri Schmid, youth director, Zion Lutheran Church in Belleville.

Poster boards were filled with photos in memory of Rodriguez, and a table was set up for students to write letters of condolences to her family.

Memorial services will be held on Friday and Saturday of this week, according to Pastor Brian Downs of Zion Lutheran Church.

All services for Maddison “Maddi” Rodriguez will be hosted by the Belleville church, Rodriguez’s home church. On Friday, a visitation will be held at 4 p.m., with a celebration of life ceremony starting at 7:30 p.m.

On Saturday, another visitation will be held at 9 a.m. and the funeral will start at 11 a.m.

Zion Lutheran Church is located at 1810 McClintock Avenue in Belleville.