San Diego, Texas – Daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother Alba S. Garcia’s love of life didn’t come to an end with her death. Alba passed away on January 27, 2023, at the age of 89, surrounded by loved ones who will continue to honor her legacy by living their lives to the fullest.
She was born to Reymundo and Maria Soriano on October 22, 1933, in the town of San Diego, Texas. She grew up with three brothers, Reymundo, Carlos, and Jose, and three sisters, Sylvia, Odilia, and Carmen. Together with her siblings, she grew up on the West side of town on St. Peters Street in a home filled with love and compassion. At a very young age, Alba learned the meaning of hard work. She would leave her home early in the morning to arrive in the cotton fields to pick cotton. Later she would find herself behind the register at the old Chris Hinojosa Pharmacy, where she would go on to meet the love of her life, Frank J. Garcia. In 1962, Frank and Alba were married in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Together they had five children.
The simplest pleasures of life brought great joy to Alba. She was a lover of food, laughing, music, and her faith. She loved a heart-warming “Novella” late in the evening to watching her favorite game show, Wheel of Fortune. Alba had a passionate love affair with ice cream, Toffee, and Milky Way candy bars. Through the years, Alba loved her trips to Las Vegas, Reno, Louisiana, and Mississippi, where she would partake in her modest addiction to gambling. Her family always will recall the grueling workout that she performed days before departing, moving her right arm in an up-and-down motion, simulating pulling down the arm of a slot machine. It was true gambling focus and determination. Her sense of humor was second to none, and she was compassionate as she was funny. In the last years of her life, she would reminisce about the poker games that she participated in. She always missed her card-playing partners, but most of all, she missed her mom.
Alba was preceded in death by both her parents, her husband Frank J. Garcia, two brothers, Carlos Soriano and Jose Soriano, and two sisters, Carmen Alaniz and Odilia Molina. She is survived by her children, Tony Almaraz, Roel Almaraz, Frank J. Garcia Jr. (Sandra), Melissa Villegas (Mando), and Eden N. Garcia (Sandra), as well as her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Sylvia “Chole” Perez (†Rodolfo) and brother Reymundo “Mundo” Soriano (Kena). Brother-in-laws Vicente Molina and Roman Alaniz, Sister-in-laws Betty Soriano and Elda Soriano, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank Mi Casa Home Health, Premier Nursing Home, and Opus Care Hospice for all the love and compassion they showed her during her final moments. To her guardian Angels, Juan, Linda, and Rosalinda thank you for the love and affection you provided Alba. Premier Nursing Home is lucky to have such wonderful people like you. A special thank you to Liza Barrera and Daniella Villegas, her granddaughters. You were her light when all was dark. You were her eyes when she couldn’t see; you were there until the very end to watch her go peacefully. She loved you dearly.
For many, she was known as Alba; to a chosen few, picked by God, she was called mom. It is highly that she would prefer to be known in perpetuity by the moniker affixed to her by her grandchildren simply as “Grandma.” We will miss you every day, we will love you always, and we shall wait for the day that we meet again.
Active Pallbearers: Tony Almaraz, Frank J. Garcia, Jr., Eden N. Garcia, Michael Garcia, Marc Garcia and Isaac Barrera.
Family will receive friends and relatives at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, at Mauro P. Garcia Funeral Home Chapel in San Diego, Texas, with a Rosary to be recited at 10:00 a.m. Funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. at St. Francis de Paula Catholic Church. Burial will follow at the San Diego Cemetery No. 2 located on County Road 145 in San Diego, Texas. Mauro P. Garcia Funeral Homes, Inc. entrusted with the arrangements.
