Hortencia Acosta Garcia

January 20, 1932- October 28, 2017

On the evening of Saturday October 28th, 2017 Hortencia Garcia was called home to be with our Lord, after complications of pneumonia. She passed away in Tucson, Arizona, she was taken to Tucson from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, where she had gone to visit her sister just one week prior. Unfortunately her trip was cut short because she became ill.

Hortencia was born in a small American owned mining town in Pilares de Nacozari, Sonora, Mexico. Her parents were Rafael Acosta and Julia Rojas Acosta. Her Grandparents Margarita and Jesus.

She was one of 13 children 4 of which passed in infancy or early childhood. The remaining at the time were nine, eight sisters in total and one brother. Ernestina, Clementina, Refugio Maria, Dora, Olga, Hortencia, Emma, Ana Alicia and Roberto.

Hortencia lived a happy childhood in Pilares with her parents, grandparents and siblings. She loved life and loved to make others laugh.

She told us so many stories of all the fun she had in her town with her friends. One of her very good friends who have now passed, named “Yoya”, was her accomplice for being mischievous. They would climb to the rooftop of the town’s movie theater and throw rocks on the metal roof then would jump off the roof and run to not get caught. Hortencia had many happy memories there. She loved to work so that she could buy herself food and clothes, at a very young age, one of her proudest moments was when she was able to buy white shoes for her first communion outfit, she was so proud and loved her white pattern leather shoes. She said while others were barefoot she had her nice new shoes.

During Hortencia’s teenage years, the small mining town where she had lived closed down so they moved to Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. Here she worked as a file clerk at the local state hospital. She had many friends there and made great memories. She moved to Los Angeles, California when she was in her twenties. She worked several factory jobs with my aunts.

She Married Joe Garcia Jr., who was her sister (Clementina’s) husband’s little brother in 1965. Together they had 3 children Ricky, Monica, and Joe Albert. They moved to Baldwin Park in 1968. Hortencia stopped working and only worked for a small period at a small store owned by her and her husband, however for the most part she was a dedicated housewife and mother. There was always homemade food on the table and seldom did they eat out. Among several typical Hispanic foods what she made best was menudo, home made tortillas and her Spanish rice.

After13 years of marriage Hortencia and Joe separated, yet never divorced. She had been completely dependent on her husband, and now she had new added responsibilities. Life was difficult for her at this time with 3 school aged children, but with God and the support of her sisters, family, and the Sisters of the love of God (order of nuns from St John the Baptist Parish) she would manage to survive. She learned to drive in her early forties, learned to write checks and pay the bills, worked in several domestic jobs and her most productive job and what she was most known for was selling curtains. Hence nickname

“Senora de las Cortinas”. Her brother in law, Hector, at the time managed a big curtain factory in El Centro, California. He sold wholesale merchandise to Hortencia.

She developed her clientele by selling at the swap meet every weekend and sometimes during the week and by word of mouth. She made many friends because of this business. Aside from her children Hortencia’s faith was the most important. She trusted God and there were times when she did not have one penny and she would pray to God to help her for her children, and soon someone would come knocking on the door to buy curtains. She always said, “God is great and He will never abandon us! She managed to put her children through private school at St John the Baptist. Here is where she became very close to Sister Invencion, (who was the principal at St John’s for many years) and where she also met her very best and loyal friend Leonice Nunez aka “Sra Nunez”

In 1991 Hortencia’s biggest turmoil occurred with the death of her youngest son Joe Albert Garcia, he was only 20 years old. Her faith was tested and she relied completely on God for comfort and peace, never blaming Him nor turning her back to Him on the contrary she fled to Him. Two years after, she was diagnosed with third stage breast cancer. Again her faith was put to the test and she surrendered all of her pain and suffering to God. That was twenty-four years ago.

Her faith was an example of what faith should be. Dedicated to our Lord she put all of her trust in Him and He carried her through her pain and suffering. She lived in the City of Baldwin Park a total of 49 years, the rest of her life. In her later years she became active in the local parish and was part of the “Guadalupanas” a ministry dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe. In her elder years she led a very prayerful life. With weekly, frequent long hour visits to the church in the adoration chapel. She would say she felt so much peace there. During the day she prayed most of the day and seldom went out. She enjoyed and loved her family very much her daughter and son Monica and Ricky and her 6 grandchildren Carissa, Albert, Lauren, Joshua, Ricky, and Emilio. She especially was proud of each one of them and loved her great grandchildren very much, Madalyn, Little Benny, Aurora and Izaiah. She always said they brought her heart so much happiness. She also loved her sisters, nephews, and nieces, and their children as well. She loved how her nephew Alex would come in straight to her room and give her a hug and kiss at every visit. She would say “ what a kind and handsome boy”

Charities she donated to included SmileTrain an organization that provide free international surgeries for those children affected by cleft lip and cleft palate and for many years she donated to St Jude’s Hospital for children with cancer. She passed away on the feast day of St Jude!

She is preceded by Joe Albert Garcia 1991 (son), Joe Garcia 2009 (spouse)

Siblings: Olga Rodriguez 2007, Ernestina Cotaque, Dora Acosta, and Roberto Acosta Nephews Frank Garcia, Marcos Cotaque. Great Nephew Guillermo “ Memo” Cotaque

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our family and friends for the love and support given to us during these difficult times. Your support has meant the world to us. We love you very much. God always bless all of you! Love, Hortencia Garcia’s Family

Services: Handled by Del Angel Funeraria, West Covina Ca. 91770.

Viewing on 11/9/17 Del Angel Mortuary 4 pm-7pm

Rosary St John the Baptist Church 7:30 pm

3883 Baldwin Park Boulevard Baldwin Park Ca 91706

Mass on 11/10/17 at 10 am St John the Baptist Church

Reception Friday Nov 10, 2017

Time: 1pm -6pm

Rosemead Recreation Center

3936 Muscatel Ave

Rosemead Ca. 91770

626-567-2251