Irene Marie Garza

Irene was born on January 3, 1953, in Visalia, California. She was the second eldest daughter of four sisters to Robert and Lupe Arechiga. Her parents immigrated to the United States from Jalpa, Zacatecas, Mexico. Her father Robert owned Bob’s Shoe Repair Shop on Main Street. Her mother Lupe was a member and President of the women’s organization, Guadalupana Society, of the Catholic Church. Irene grew up in a humble home on Court Street near Holy Family Church.

Irene attended Holy Family Catholic School and was a Redwood High School graduate, class of 1971. She was a letterette in high school and kept a close knit group of friends who she was close with until her passing. Her first job was working at her father’s shoe repair shop after school. Then she worked at Malick Motors as a bookkeeper. Irene was later hired as a stenographer by the Visalia Police Department. All of Irene’s prior work experience laid the foundation for what would be her dream career as a Mary Kay Sales Director. Irene was highly successful with Mary Kay Cosmetics for over 50 years winning awards and multiple new cars along the way. Irene and her daughter forged many fond memories together while delivering Mary Kay products to her customers all around the valley. In addition to her work with Mary Kay, she was hired by Lincoln Elementary School in Hanford as a Bilingual receptionist where she worked for 10 years. She retired from Lincoln Elementary school in 2010, but continued to work in Mary Kay until she passed.

Irene married Robert Lopez Garza on May 19, 1973 and had three children: Irma, Robert, and Martin. Irene was a devoted and faithful wife of 50 years. The two were married until Robert’s passing on November 1, 2023.

Irene was a devout Catholic who enjoyed volunteering her time at her church. She was involved in many of St. Mary’s Church activities such as, catechism teacher, prolife group, adoration, and various prayer groups. Irene was intentional about her life revolving around church, prayer, and family; so much in fact, her husband would often joke, “Your mom should have been a nun!” She was helpful by example and prayer. Her grandkids knew when they visited their grandma Irene they would have to pray the rosary and receive an unofficial catechism lesson. Nothing brought her greater joy than seeing her family at mass together. Her favorite saints were Mother Teresa, Padre Pio, and Pope John Paul II.

Irene will be remembered for being a warm and welcoming host who enjoyed cooking and good conversation. She took pride in whipping up a good meal with whatever she had on hand in her pantry or fridge. Her family will always remember her menudo, albondigas soup, enchiladas, roast, tamales, breakfasts, refried beans, avena and her famous salsa.

Irene enjoyed reading, sewing, crocheting, swimming and going to the beach. She loved when her family would visit after mass and gather around the living room talking, laughing and debating for hours. She enjoyed her times traveling with her son Martin and his family to Disneyworld and visiting her daughter Irma and her family in Camarillo. She loved her black pug Bear, parakeets Spencer and Dolly, and adopted cat Cory.

Irene was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, mother-in-law, nina, comadre and grandmother. She was an intelligent women with great words of wisdom, independent, and willing to sacrifice for her family. She was a superb listener and would never brag. While growing up, her father would often say, “You don’t have to brag, people have eyes.” When anyone had a conversation with Irene they would sense her genuine interest in them, this was especially true with her grandkids. Irene was an exceptional lady who behaved with dignity and class, she will truly be missed.

She was preceded in death by her husband Robert Lopez Garza and mother Lupe Arechiga and father Roberto Arechiga.

Irene is survived by her daughter Irma Rodriguez, son-in-law Keith, grandchildren Ethan, Quinten and Lea Rodriguez; son Robert Jacob Garza; son Martin Arechiga Garza, daughter-in-law Kathy, grandchildren Allison, Emily, Ezekiel, and Gabriel Garza; sister Rachel Navarrete (Pilar); sister Diana Ramirez (Jimmy); sister Rosemary Gonzales (Ruben), and many nieces and nephews.

A Rosary will be held on Sunday, November 30, 2025 at 5:30PM at Millers Memorial Chapel, 1120 West Goshen Avenue, Visalia, CA 93291. A Memorial Mass for Irene will be held on Monday, December 1, 2025 at 11:30 AM at Holy Family Catholic Church, 1908 N Court St, Visalia, CA 93291. Following the memorial service will be an interment at 1:00 PM at Visalia Public Cemetery District, 1300 West Goshen Avenue, Visalia, CA 93291.