Esperanza Garcia

Esperanza Yanez Garcia, 86, of Safford, passed away November 21, 2017. She was born October 17, 1931 in Bacerac, Mexico to Alejandro & Francisca Sanchez Yanez. She met and married Jose "Tavo" Garcia in 1964. They moved to Morenci, AZ where they started their family; Joey Eldon, Tavo's adopted son whom she loved as her own, Cecelia "Cici", Diane, Rene and Joe Jr. In 1978 the family moved to Safford. Esperanza was a loving person who was always caring for others. She cared for her mother for many years when she was diagnosed with breast cancer until her passing and she also cared for her husband for many years after he had suffered with multiple strokes as well. After Tavo passed away she became a member of the church choir, "Coro Mensajero", where she loved to sing. Singing was her passion and she was good at it. She was also a member of the "Messengers of Mary" where she volunteered her time singing Mass at the nursing home. She enjoyed watching the patients smiling as they sang along and she loved to interact with them. In her spare time, she volunteered cleaning the church, working at the fiesta's and many other services for the church. She will always be loved and forever missed. She is survived by her daughter Diane (Dan) Braatz, her sons Rene Garcia and Joe (Tonya) Garcia, her grandchildren; Cassandra, Nicole and Jonathan, 4 great-grandchildren and many wonderful friends who loved her dearly. Esperanza was preceded in death by her loving husband Tavo, her son Joey, daughter Cecelia and both of her parents. A viewing will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2017 at St. Rose of Lima Church at 9:00 a.m. with the Rosary being led at 10:00 a.m. followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. with Father Robert Rodriguez as celebrant. Interment will be in the Safford Cemetery.