Rita Roberta Garcia

1957-2023

Rita Roberta Garcia

Rita Roberta Garcia, age 65, a resident of Peralta, passed away peacefully on March 25, 2023.

To honor her, services will be held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Peralta on Wednesday, April 5, with a visitation at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Rosary at 10:30 a.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Cemetery in Valencia. We invite all family and friends to join us to celebrate the life of Rita.

She was born in 1957 in Albuquerque to Ralph and Lola Serna Garcia. Rita married her life-long friend and love of 49 years, Christian Isidro Garcia. She devoted her life to raising her children and, once they were grown, Rita pursued her lifelong dream to become a teacher.

She was a wonderful mother and always put her children first. Rita graduated from the College of Santa Fe with a bachelor’s degree in education and went on to teach students in many different Los Lunas Schools in Valencia County. Her passion was teaching and watching the children grow and develop a love of lifetime learning. Rita touched many lives throughout her teaching career.

She was faced with a difficult decision to end her long and successful career after battling a debilitating and chronic disease (rheumatoid arthritis). Rita was co-founder and chief financial advisor of CG’s Concrete, which opened their doors in 2000 and is successfully in operation to this day.

She is preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Primetivo and Ralph; and sisters, Maryann Chavez, Mary Frances Solis-Garcia and Philomena Torres.

Rita is survived by her loving husband, Christian; children, Christian T. Garcia (Ashley) and Andrea Garcia (Joseph); five loving grandchildren, Erika, Jontelle, Jocelyn, Joseph Jr. and Christian Jr.; siblings, Robert Garcia (Kelly), Jane Woods, Lucy Torres (Joe), Cecilia Gallegos (Richard) and Patsy Gonzales (Ray); and seven loving great grandchildren. She is also survived by her loving nieces, nephews and friends all of whom she loved and touched deeply.

Pallbearers will be Joseph Jr. and Herman Garcia, Jennifer John, Ramon Gonzales, Chris Torres and Brian Stearly.

Please sign Rita’s online tribute at romerofuneralhomenm.com. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen.

The Valencia County News-Bulletin is a locally owned and operated community newspaper, dedicated to serving Valencia County since 1910 through the highest journalistic and professional business standards. The VCNB is published weekly on Thursdays, including holidays both in print and online.