Josephine M. Garcia

Josie is survived by her two children, Lisa Garcia and Joseph Garcia; two grandchildren, Christina Kimball, Michael Kimball and his wife Stella Kimball; three Great Grandchildren, Adriano Garcia, Lydia Diaz and Sofia Kimball; and her sister Helen Gonzalez. She is preceded in death by her husband Joseph L. Garcia and her parents Cruz Cardenas & Emma Souza-Cardenas.

She was born in Merced California, on November 27, 1942. After her mother’s passing when she was only five years old, she, along with her sister Helen, would go on to be raised by her grandmother. Josie graduated from Merced High School in 1961. While attending a local Mexican dance she met her future husband, Joe, the two were married in Reno Nevada on September 5, 1964. They moved to Barstow after Joe left the United States Air Force to work for Santa Fe Railroad. Josie worked for Thrifty’s Drug Store, running several departments, where her bright smile and gift for gab made her a perfect fit, becoming one of the stores most beloved employees until her retirement after 20+ years of service.

At her core, Josie was a people person, she loved talking and meeting new people. She genuinely cared about others and could make a new friend everywhere she went. She was beautiful, charming, had a great sense of humor, and people always seemed to gravitate towards her.

She loved socializing and opening her home to family, friends, and neighbors, which she did often, from holiday gatherings, pool parties and cookouts to late nights around the table drinking coffee or simply sitting outside and talking the night away. She ensured there was always plenty of food, drinks, and a never-ending supply of love and laughter. Always the life of the party, her infectious laugh and quick wit could make any night fun and memorable. She was known for her delicious enchiladas, which were often a special requested birthday dinner from her children. And it was well known that her all-time favorite meal was a big steak dinner; with In-N-Out cheeseburger, fries and chocolate shake coming in a close second.

She had a wide range of interests, shopping was something she was always ready for, she deeply loved all animals and had many beloved pets that she spoiled just like family, she had a green thumb and loved gardening, growing many beautiful flowers and plants over the years. She enjoyed watching a variety of TV shows, including programs about history and space, Hallmark Christmas shows, football games, music and dancing, game shows and of course her favorites, QVC & HSN.

She was giving and generous, always wanting to do something to make you feel special and appreciated. From repairmen to delivery drivers, if you did something for her, she would make it a point to provide a gift to say thank you. Every Christmas, she would go outside at 5am in the cold to meet the garbage truck drivers on their route to give them all gift cards, she wanted them to know she appreciated what they did. If you came to visit, there was a good chance you wouldn’t be able to leave the house until she gave you a gift, it was just her way.

She loved celebrating holidays and always went above and beyond to make those occasions with her family special. Her birthday often fell on the same day as Thanksgiving, making it an even more joyous occasion, and would inspire a myriad of Turkey gifts that she proudly embraced & displayed. Christmas was her favorite, the opportunity to decorate and shower gifts on her loved ones brought her a special kind of happiness. She joyfully set up a Christmas village that grew from a few houses to a full-blown city over the years and was something everyone looked forward to seeing.

Her greatest joy came from spending time with her family, who meant everything to her, and she relished every opportunity to heap love and praise upon them. Whether it was eating together as a family, enjoying a game of Yahtzee, cheering on the 49’ers on game day, having fun in Vegas, or simply just sitting around and talking, she committed all she had to them. She was a wife, a sister, a mother, a grandmother, and a great grandmother; she was Mom, Grandma, and Gigi, she was so many things to so many people. She was the glue that held everything and everyone together, her love permeated all things and touched the hearts of all. Her kindness, her humor, her caring and compassion, and most of all her love, will be sorely missed. She was a Christian, she loved Jesus and started each morning being thankful for a new day and watching religious sermons, she ended each evening praying for her friends and family. May she rest in peace, may her spirit be with Jesus, and may her family and friends continue to find joy and comfort in the many wonderful memories her love inspired.

Per her request, there will be no memorial services. Josie and her husband Joe will be interred together at the Riverside National Cemetery on a future date, to be announced later. And in lieu of flowers, the family has asked that you consider donating to one of the following charities; the St Jude Children’s Research Hospital @ https://www.stjude.org; or The American Humane Society @ https://www.americanhumane.org

Please join us in remembering Josephine M. Garcia's life by visiting our memorial at www.meadcares.com

Through this site, we invite you to view and share cherished photos and videos, add a memory, and share Josephina's obituary with other family members and friends via social media and email. Please leave your thoughts and prayers to comfort the family during this difficult time.