Margarita Garcia Elizondo

Margarita was born on October 13, 1946 in the border town of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, though she spent most of her life on the other side of the Rio Grande in Laredo, Texas, and spent her golden years with her immediate family in Frisco, Texas. Much of her life mirrored the Rio Grande itself, flowing seamlessly between two nations and two worlds. Her Mexican birth, upbringing, and ancestry greatly mattered to her, but she nevertheless embraced her naturalized American citizenship with gusto, making competitions between the two national teams an anxiety-inducing experience. She wielded English and Spanish alike with ease, charming and impressing all who met her.

Margarita lost her father at the tender age of 6, which, unlike many women of her time, pushed her to join the workforce in order to support her mother, and, eventually, her daughter. She attended community college, which led to a variety of jobs, but if you asked her, there were two where she found a home: Union Pacific Railroad, where she once diligently showed up to work unaware that there was a strike, and the San Francisco Javier Catholic Church, who she dutifully served for decades as an office manager.

The latter career illustrates something integral about Margarita — her faith. She was a devoted Catholic, and traveled around both the United States and the world as a member of the Cursillo Movement, which encourages lay Christians to become faith leaders in their communities, and teaches them how to do so. This sparked a general love of travel — Margarita’s visits to Italy and Venezuela particularly impacted her, and for decades after, it was common to hear her happily chatter about the things she saw and the people she met.

Margarita was as kind and generous as could be, and, even well into her 70s, never turned down someone in need. She never met a stranger, and she had a magical ability to get the full life story from whoever she sat next to on a bus or plane. She loved fiction books, telenovelas, bunny rabbits, roses, violets, daisies, devouring TV shows, and collecting angel statues, nativity scenes, and other knick-knacks. From her father, son-in-law, and grandson’s influence, she also loved baseball. Her family would also frequently hear her excitedly cheering on Mexican soccer teams from the other room. She enjoyed cooking, which was a common way that she expressed her love. Most of all, she loved her family fiercely, and would do anything for them.

She was preceded in death by her father, Rogelio Garcia, her mother, Consuelo Coss, and her older half-siblings. She is survived by her daughter, Claudia Frankel, son-in-law, Elliot Frankel, and grandson, Garion “Gary” Frankel, all of Frisco, Texas, as well as innumerable cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends (who were really more like family).

A visitation will be held at Stonebriar Funeral Home, 10375 Preston Rd, Frisco, Texas 75033, on Thursday, June 12th from 5pm to 8pm with a Rosary at 6pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 8000 Eldorado Pkwy, Frisco, Texas 75033, on Friday, June 13th at 11am. A burial service will be held later date at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Laredo, Texas.