Maria J. Garcia, 93, passed away at her home in Tracy from natural causes. She was born in Altares, Terceira in the Azores on December 29, 1927 and has called Tracy her home for the past 51 years.
Maria was a seamstress and did alterations for several local downtown businesses. She was also well known for creating capes for the Portuguese festas in the area. She was fondly known as “Va” to all who knew and loved her. She was a member of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, the IPFES Portuguese Hall and S.P.R.S.I. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting and visiting with her friends.
Maria is survived by her children, Filomena (Laurenio) Bettencourt, Leeanna (Leland) Gerhart and Joe (Rosa) Garcia, all from Tracy; her grandchildren, Sandra Crivello of Merced, David (Aleasha) Garcia of Modesto, Lorraine (Michael) Medeiros of Tracy, Carmen (Jim) Martins of Turlock, Monica Bettencourt of Tracy, Juliette (Kevin) Bingham of Modesto, Melinda (Scott) Paquin of Billings, MT, Michael Garcia of Oakland, Michelle (Zack) Rodriquez of Bangor; 21 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandchild; and her sister Julieta (Artur) Lopes of Terceira, Azores.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Jose B. Garcia, her parents Manuel & Filomena Pires, her brother Jose Vaz and her sister Filomena Garcia.
A Vigil will be held at 6pm on Monday, January 25 at Fry Memorial Chapel, 550 S. Central Ave, Tracy. Visitation will be from 4pm-9pm. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11am on Tuesday, January 26 at St. Bernard’s Holy Family Center, 12100 Valpico Rd, Tracy. Graveside services to follow at Tracy Public Cemetery, 501 E. Schulte Rd, Tracy.
Vigil services will be livestreamed via her tribute page at www.frymemorialchpael.com, along with a guestbook for condolences and special messages to the family.
Donations in Maria’s name may be sent to St. Bernard’s Building Fund, c/o St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, 163 W. Eaton Ave, Tracy, CA 95376.
Click here to view a webcast of the service on 1/25/2021 at 05:45 PM, Pacific Standard Time.
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