Ramona Garcia

On November 30^th, Ramona Garcia was reunited with her husband, Frank Garcia, in Heaven, a few weeks shy of what would have been their 68^th Wedding Anniversary and her 87^th Birthday.  In addition to her husband Frank, she was preceded in death by her son Lloyd Bert Garcia. She is survived in life by her son Frank Garcia (wife Debra Garcia), son Phil Garcia, daughter Michelle Mojica, and daughter-in-law Carolyn Garcia.

She is also survived by her loving grandchildren- Joseph (wife Andrea), Frances Cordray (husband Steve), Ariana Thiemens (husband Garrett), Francisco (wife Victoria), and Josh Manley. On top of being a world class mother and grandmother she was also a great (in every sense of the word) grandmother to – Julia, Joaquin, Evan, Allison, Evangeline, Natalie, Sawyer, Ella, Emmalea, and the newest- baby Francisca (Frankie).

Ramona was born in Denver Colorado in 1935 on Christmas day. She grew up with her sister Dorothy in Ft. Collins CO.  It was also in Ft. Collins where she met the love of her life- Francisco Garcia. The story goes that they were a couple since age 11.  They eventually settled in Los Alamos NM.  It was in Los Alamos that they raised their four children.

During her time in Los Alamos, Ramona worked in a shoe store and then spent decades as a teaching assistant and librarian at Mountain School. This further reinforced her belief in the value of education and especially the important role that teachers play in shaping our world.

Ramona was known by all for being kind, funny, and welcoming.  She made sure that any guest in her home felt comfortable and well fed.  She could whip up a fancy lunch of eggs “a la goldenrod” at the drop of a hat if you even hinted at being hungry.  She was famous for her baking and passed on many of her best recipes to her children and grandchildren, who despite their best efforts could never match the quality of her sweet cinnamon rolls or the savory flavor of her bierox.

She always made it a point to not only know and welcome her kid’s friends but her grandkid’s friends as well.  Many of them still remember her lavish breakfasts and homemade tortillas that she would put together anytime anyone stayed over at their home. Not to mention the fact that she taught them all how to play poker, and how to cheat at UNO. She was especially good at Gin Rummy and could still beat most people she played up until just a few weeks ago.

Ramona lived the last few years of her life in Albuquerque to be closer to her doctors.  They bought a house on the Westside and were active members of St. Jude Thaddeus Church until mobility issues limited their ability to volunteer.

On the morning of November 30^th, 2022, she passed away peacefully in her sleep during a very short stay in Hospice.

She will be loved and missed by all who knew her. Her legacy will live on in the way her children and grandchildren act as not only parents but teachers and coaches in their communities as well.

Services for Ramona will be held on Tuesday December 6^th at St. Jude Thaddeus Church- 5712 Paradise Blvd NW, Albuquerque NM 87114.  The viewing will begin at 9am with a Rosary and Mass to follow starting at 930am. Ramona will be interred at Fairview Memorial Cemetery immediately after mass.

A Celebration of Life will be held in early 2023 to allow all of her friends and relatives adequate time to make travel arrangements during a more relaxed non holiday travel window.