Ildalia Garcia
June 29, 1927 — December 21, 2015
Ildalia Baez Garcia was born on June 29, 1927 in Mariel, Cuba to parents Juana and Ramon Baez and entered into eternal rest on December 21, 2015 at her home in Arcadia, California. She was 88 years old.
Ildalia was born on a typical June summer day in Mariel, Cuba. Strength, determination, perseverance and family defined this little dynamo of a woman. The oldest of 4 children, Ilda was tasked with the cooking duties at age 7. She learned early on to use her gift of cooking to create a family filled with memories of time spent together laughing and eating. Work was her hobby, family was her life.
At the tender age of 11 she met the man she would marry, he was 14. Oscar and Ildalia married on October 2, 1948, she was 21 and he was 24. They raised their family in Cuba until October, 1963 when the political climate in Cuba changed and they fled to the United States by escaping in a coal boat with many family and friends. They had 4 children. Oscar, Ramon, and Mercedes were born in Cuba. Jane was born in the United States. In Cuba they were grocers, and 7 short years after arriving in the USA they were grocers once again. Together with her husband they worked and persevered. They worked together, every day for over 40 years. Work was her hobby, family was her life.
Ildalia never gave up. She worked odd jobs the first 7 years in the USA. She made ice cream cones, aquariums, rubber gaskets, all the while saving for their new dream. They owned their own business, a grocery store, from 1970 to 2002. Her family learned a work ethic like no other. Work was her hobby, family was her life.
She was known for her great cooking, her fiery temper, and her fierce loyalty. She could cook like no other. Her trademark kitchen towel over the shoulder was known throughout the family. She could whip up a traditional Cuban meal in 20 minutes. She was strict and dedicated. She was like the energizer bunny...nonstop. You could count on her to help you if you needed it. Together with her husband they were unstoppable.
Sundays after retirement always meant dinner at grandmas. Most Sundays you’d find nearly all her children and their spouses sitting around the table laughing and eating. It was like open house every Sunday. Many of the grandchildren and great grandchildren would also drop by every Sunday. Work was her hobby but her family was her life.
The legacy of strength, determination, perseverance and family will go on. A life well spent.
Mrs. Garcia leaves behind her loving family: sons Oscar (Ana Maria) Garcia Jr., Ramon (Zereida) Garcia, and daughters Mercedes (Alberto) Sedano and Jane (Douglas) MacNeil. She is the beloved grandmother of 9 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Church of the Nazarene
Helping Hands/In His Image
3700 E. Sierra Madre Blvd.
Pasadena, Ca. 91107
* please write Ildalia Garcia in the memo.
Condolences may be sent to her family through our website.
Ildalia was born on a typical June summer day in Mariel, Cuba. Strength, determination, perseverance and family defined this little dynamo of a woman. The oldest of 4 children, Ilda was tasked with the cooking duties at age 7. She learned early on to use her gift of cooking to create a family filled with memories of time spent together laughing and eating. Work was her hobby, family was her life.
At the tender age of 11 she met the man she would marry, he was 14. Oscar and Ildalia married on October 2, 1948, she was 21 and he was 24. They raised their family in Cuba until October, 1963 when the political climate in Cuba changed and they fled to the United States by escaping in a coal boat with many family and friends. They had 4 children. Oscar, Ramon, and Mercedes were born in Cuba. Jane was born in the United States. In Cuba they were grocers, and 7 short years after arriving in the USA they were grocers once again. Together with her husband they worked and persevered. They worked together, every day for over 40 years. Work was her hobby, family was her life.
Ildalia never gave up. She worked odd jobs the first 7 years in the USA. She made ice cream cones, aquariums, rubber gaskets, all the while saving for their new dream. They owned their own business, a grocery store, from 1970 to 2002. Her family learned a work ethic like no other. Work was her hobby, family was her life.
She was known for her great cooking, her fiery temper, and her fierce loyalty. She could cook like no other. Her trademark kitchen towel over the shoulder was known throughout the family. She could whip up a traditional Cuban meal in 20 minutes. She was strict and dedicated. She was like the energizer bunny...nonstop. You could count on her to help you if you needed it. Together with her husband they were unstoppable.
Sundays after retirement always meant dinner at grandmas. Most Sundays you’d find nearly all her children and their spouses sitting around the table laughing and eating. It was like open house every Sunday. Many of the grandchildren and great grandchildren would also drop by every Sunday. Work was her hobby but her family was her life.
The legacy of strength, determination, perseverance and family will go on. A life well spent.
Mrs. Garcia leaves behind her loving family: sons Oscar (Ana Maria) Garcia Jr., Ramon (Zereida) Garcia, and daughters Mercedes (Alberto) Sedano and Jane (Douglas) MacNeil. She is the beloved grandmother of 9 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Church of the Nazarene
Helping Hands/In His Image
3700 E. Sierra Madre Blvd.
Pasadena, Ca. 91107
* please write Ildalia Garcia in the memo.
Condolences may be sent to her family through our website.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ildalia Garcia, please visit our flower store.