Imelda Garcia Raborn

Imelda Garcia Raborn passed away in her sleep surrounded by her family on September 3, 2021. She was 96 years young born on January 20, 1925, in Masatepe departamento de Masaya, Nicaragua. She is the daughter of the late Carlos Garcia Villavicencio and Virginia Cabezas Garcia. She attended Zoila de Masatepe School and later became a teacher there. She then migrated to the United States in 1953 and became a Native New Orleanian where she came to love the food and culture of New Orleans, especially Mardi Gras. As proud as she was, she was also so smart, becoming a Naturalized U.S. citizen in 1974. Shortly thereafter she became a longtime resident of Mid-City where she was the manager of Tastee Donuts until its closing 17 years later. While living here she raised her children as a hard-working single parent, and they never had to do without. She then later moved to Jefferson Parish first Metairie and then Kenner where she worked well into her 90’s at Lakeside and Esplanade mall. Always being a devoted catholic she was a parishioner of Sacred Heart and St Anthony of Padua’s churches for many years and a member of St. Clement de Rome’s choir, member of St. Jerome’s Ladies Altar Society and in recent years an attendee of Our Lady of Divine Providence’s mass every Saturday.

Imelda is survived by her dear son/hijo Edward Joseph Tanner and her beloved daughter/hija Elsa Ninoska Tanner Carrington (Monte). Grandmother/abuela to her three beautiful treasured granddaughters/nietas Michelle Adrianne Carrington, Meghan Ashley Carrington Delord (Brad) and Marlana Alexis Carrington, sister/hermana of Noemy del Carmen Garcia Sanchez and Cenelia Mariana Garcia Sanchez, aunt/tia to Ena de los Angeles Arevalo Garcia, Medardo Alejandro “Nino” Arevalo Garcia, Jairo Arevalo Garcia, Elmo Garcia Bonilla, Grisel Hurtado Garcia, Martha Ligia Hurtado Garcia, Maria Nela Hurtado Garcia, and many more along with several great nieces/sobrinas and nephews/sobrinos. Great Grandmother/bisabuela to her beloved handsome great grandson/bisnieto Beaux Bradley Delord. She is preceded in death by her husband Nolan Edward Raborn, her brother Carlos Ramon Garcia Sanchez, Elmo de Jesus Garcia Sanchez, Ena del Carmen Garcia Sanchez, and Claxira Auxiliadora Garcia Sanchez.

Heaven gained our angel on earth, our rock, our hero, the strongest mother, and the best loving grandmother that would do for everyone else before her. She enjoyed her time with family, regularly attending church, going to the movies, getting dressed up with her colorful hats and her jewelry she loved to put on, fussing with her son-in-law Monte, telling the greatest stories of her youth to her Marlanita, Meghancita, and Metchell, kissing on her great grandson Beaux Beaux, visiting her favorite cousin “Changa” who she will now get to see in heaven, dancing at all of our family parties but most of all she dedicated her life to providing for her children and grandchildren and was filled with joy when she was able to spend time with her son “Eddie” who had severe down syndrome; not a Sunday went by where she got dressed to the nines to go see him. She was a woman of pride, character, and honesty, she spread love everywhere she went. Imelda leaves behind a great legacy and many treasured relatives and loyal friends who will miss her dearly. What we would do to hear her say “Te Amo” again.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Lake Lawn Funeral Home, especially Mr. Michael Schumann and Mrs. Cynthia Dobson for going above and beyond to fill our needs under these extenuating circumstances.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home on Friday, September 17, 2021 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. A Funeral Mass will be held the following day on Saturday, September 18, 2021 at 11:00 am. with a visitation beginning at 10:00 am at St. Anthony Padua Church, 4640 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70119. Interment will be at Lake Lawn Park Mausoleum.

To sign the family guestbook, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com.