Anna Mary Garcia

Anna Mae had 12 brothers and sisters. Her father worked as a Teamster driving buck wagons pulled by horses. Her mother was a homemaker and also raised chickens and other animals on their small lot.

At age 14 she left school to work in the avocado packing houses. And during World War II she, along with her sister Margaret, went to work in the defense industry in San Diego. They would take a bus every morning from Escondido to Kearny Mesa. She worked on airplanes used in war effort. Her job was characterized in the 1940’s as “Rosie the Riveter”.

She then married and had her oldest child David. After a short marriage she returned to live with her mother in Escondido with her son David. She then met Joseph Garcia at a dance and they married in 1953. They had four additional children: Robert, Helen, Anna, and Lenora.

In 1958 the family moved to East San Diego where they lived until they moved to Chula Vista in 1966. She remained at the same home in Chula Vista until she passed away on December 29, 2011, at the age of 86.

Anna Mae was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her family meant everything to her.

She was happily married to her husband Joseph for 41 years. He passed away in 1994. She was proud of each of her children and always provided them with love and encouragement.

Anna Mae adored her grandchildren, Lisa, Linnette, David Vincent, Alexandria, Matthew, Robert and William, and her great-grandchildren, Aiden, Sevilla and Kennedy. She made a point to attend their birthday parties, graduation ceremonies, baptisms, 1st Communion, and other important events.

She was a great sister. She enjoyed visiting her sisters in Escondido. Two of them survived her, Margaret and Teresa. She also looked forward to the times when her brothers, Elias and Domingo (who also survived her) would travel from their homes to spend time with her in Chula Vista.

Anna Mae seldom got mad. But on those rare occasions when she was upset or angry she would say "Que me lleve el tren" (Let the train take me).

Anna Mae spent the last four days of her life at home where she continued to tell her children that she loved them. She was visited by many relatives, neighbors, and friends who stopped in to say their last good-byes. Anna Mae never complained and was happy to be home.

She passed away in the early afternoon on December 29, 2011, surrounded by her children, her sister Margaret, her brother Elias, nieces Mary Ellen and Debbie, and long time family friend Luis Arias.

We will all miss her.