Rosemary Sanchez Garcia

GARCIA-Rosemary Sanchez Garcia, passed away on Thursday, December 23rd, in Glendora, California. She and her husband, Henry Garcia, were the first Hispanic Owner Operators in the entire McDonald's system. She will be remembered as a strong, smart, and accomplished lady who was passionate about her family, friends, and many pursuits. She loved a challenge and was a woman of courage. Her most delightful moments were decorating her home at Christmas and the delight it brought to the faces of those passers-by. Beginning with their first restaurant in Echo Park, they grew their McDonald's organization by adding eleven more. With Rosemary's guidance, her son, grandson and five former employees became owner operators. She has been recognized for her many contributions to the system and to her community. Her lists of awards are many, including the Ronald Award, the Pioneer Award, the Shining Star Award, the Dream Award & the Dorothy O'Brien Award, As a former educator, she was especially generous in her sponsorship & support of HACER (Hispanic American Commitment to Education Resources) Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House & Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California. Rosemary was the first Hispanic Woman to be granted an operators license by the FCC. Her other charitable work included her own St. Vincent Meals On Wheels route and her generous contributions to the Glendora Public Library, the band shell at Finkbinder Park, & Foothill Presbyterian Hospital. She is survived by her husband Henry, brother Joseph Sanchez (Juanita), sisters Vicky Hendrickson (Oscar) & Elsie Sealander, her son Randy Garcia (Martha), her daughter Mitzi A. Garcia-Stein (Marc), grandchildren Sean Lucero (Shauna), John Garcia (Maricela), Yvonne Wilson, Henry J. Monge (Gabriel), Christopher Garcia, and Jennifer Garcia and 14 great-grandchildren. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, December 30th, 2010 at 10:00 AM at St. Dorothy's Catholic Church, 241 S. Valley Center Avenue in Glendora, California. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California. White's Funeral Home (626) 334-2921 assisting the family.