Obituary of Paula Garcia

With profound sadness we announce the passing of our loving mother and grandmother, Paula Garcia.  She died peacefully at home on March 3, 2023. 

A true example of resiliency and strength, she left this earth on her own terms – choosing to live her last 3 weeks surrounded by love and light rather than sitting in a hospital bed waiting for death. 

She was warm, caring, and kind.  In her final days she found comfort in what she enjoyed the most, family, music, and singing.  She spoke to God daily, asking him to take care of her family and letting him know that she was ready to go. 

She spent many moments telling us how much she loved us.  We spent hours listening to her tell us stories of her life – stories that made us cry and admire her even more.  We remembered all the good times and the hard times we had gone through as the 4 musketeers.  We spent the time laughing at silly jokes, enjoying playful moments, and capturing videos of her playing with her little dog Peanut.  We cried together, held each other, and prayed for each other. 

She was an extraordinary woman who lived an extraordinary life that cannot be captured in a few short paragraphs. The challenges she faced in life had made her fiercely protective of her family, empathetic, hard-working, and with a wicked sense of humor – a little bit of snark but always without malice. 

Our mother was preceded in death by our father Jose Rangel Garcia who passed away in 2016. Though their marriage ended their friendship continued.  We know for sure they are now together sitting in a garden, under a large peach tree, talking about the things only they understood. 

She was fierce.  She passed away knowing that she had finished her work here but she would always be with us in case we needed her.  I can imagine her saying: 

Don’t cry for me now I have died, for I’m still here I’m by your side. 

My body’s gone, but my soul is here, please don’t shed another tear. 

I am still here I’m all around, only my body lies in the ground. 

I am the snowflake that kisses your nose 

I am the frost that nips your nose. 

I am the sun, bringing you light. 

I am the star, shining so bright. 

I am the rain, refreshing the earth. 

I am the laughter, I am the mirth. 

I am the bird, up in the sky. 

I am the cloud, that’s drifting by. 

I am the thoughts, inside your head. 

While I’m still there, I can’t be dead. 

-Anon 

We will always remember these words to give us strength and courage.  With all our love your daughters Olivia, Patricia, and your grand-daughter Annalise.