Maria Lopez-Garcia

María Elviria López - Garcia


Matriarch of the López, Martínez and Garcia families passed away at the age of 98 on October 11, 2008 surrounded by her family in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Elviria was born July 13, 1910 in Córdova, New Mexico the only daughter and youngest child of José Dolores López, famed Córdova woodcarver, and María Candelaria Trujillo López. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Willie Garcia of Ojo de la Vaca, daughter María Ruth Martinez, brothers Nicudemos (Pascualita), Rafael (Precidez), George T. (Silvianita), Ricardo (Benita), Alfredo and Epitacio López, daughter-in-law Elviria López and great-grandson Luis Martinez.

Elviria is survived by her children Candelaria Martinez Lucero (Marcelino) Santa Fe; Viola Martinez Goss (Charles), Houston, TX; Eluid Martinez (Suzanne) Santa Fe; and Joe Merlin López, Santa Fe; her two grandsons Robert Lohbeck (Cheryl) Albuquerque and Roland Lohbeck (Gale) Houston, TX; granddaughter Pamela Martinez-Yutarte (Kenneth), Santa Fe whom she and Grandpa Willie raised and William López who lived with and cared for her after Grandpa Willies passing. Eighteen grandchildren: Floyd Lucero (María Padilla); Leroy Lucero (Minerva); Bell Lovato (Ted); Dora Martinez; Chris Lucero (John); Judy Lucero; and Jeannie Felix; Robert Lohbeck; Roger Lohbeck and Roland Lohbeck (Laura); Adrian Martinez (Tammy); Trina Page (Robert); and Pamela Martinez-Yutarte; Jo Arthur López; William López; Matthew López (Victoria); Amanda López (Robert Romero) and Ernesto López; 25 great grandchildren and 20 great-great grandchildren. Ahijado Eurgencio (Orlinda) López, Córdova, NM. Special nieces and nephews Sabanita (Junior) Ortiz & family, Córdova, NM; Nora (Delfido) Cerrano, Española, NM; Ermelinda (Harry) Williams, Los Alamos, NM; Nasario López, Córdova, NM; Fidel (Rosa) López, Truchas, NM; Victoriano (Neari) Reynolds, Córdova, NM; Odelia (John) Sandoval, Rio Chiquito, NM; Lillian Starzyk, Albuquerque, NM; and Gloria (Herminio) Córdova, Córdova, NM. Special friends: Pancho and Carmen Gonzales.

Elviria was an independent and strong willed woman, who moved to Santa Fe with her three young children in the 1940s and as a single mother worked hard to provide for them. She worked at Electric Laundry and White Swan Laundry as a seamstress for many years. In 1953 she meet Willie Garcia in Santa Fe and soon fell in love, they married in 1954 and were married for 50 years until his death in 2004. Elviria welcomed everyone into her home always offering something to eat with ven a comeri in her northern New Mexico Spanish which she was so proud of and which she never forgot.
Family and friends will remember her as great cook, a long time wrestling fan, for the summer camping trips she and Grandpa Willie took the grandkids on and for her recollections of time spent growing up in Córdova, New Mexico. She often told of her trips to Santa Fe with her father José Dolores in a boggey (buggy) when they would bring his woodcarvings to sell, they would visit friends on Canyon Road do their shopping and spend the nights in Santa Fe then two days later return to Córdova. In the early 1920s traveling by horse and buggy from Córdova to Santa Fe was a full days trip. Elvirias passing leaves a void in the many lives she has touched yet leaving us with many fond memories this is especially true for her grand children and great grand children who will always carry special memories of Grandma with them in their hearts.
Serving as pallbearers will be:
Floyd Lucero, Alex Ortiz, Robert Lohbeck, Adrian Martinez, Jo Arthur López and William López. Honorary pallbearers are: Trina Page, Pamela Martinez-Yutarte, Amanda López and Marissa Page.

Rosary will be recited Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 7:00pm at St. Anne Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 12:00 noon on Friday, October 17, 2008 at St. Anne Catholic Church. Internment to follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery.