MAURO GARCIA

MAURO GARCIA, age 80,native of Houston, Texas, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his family on the morning of September 21, 2009 following a nine-month long battle with leukemia. He is preceded in death by his parents, Felix and Juanita Garcia, and his brother, Mario Garcia. He is survived by his wife of fifty-four years, Gertrude Garcia, son, Anthony Garcia, daughter, Charlotte Carter, son-in-law, Steve Carter, granchildren, Camille and Barrett Carter, two brothers, Oscar and Ralph Garcia, one sister, Lupe Garcia, sister-in-law, Gloria Garcia, and many nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind many friends whose lives he touched.He graduated from Sam Houston High School. He attended University of Houston for two years. As a young man, he served in the Army and Air Force. He retired from the State of Texas Highway Department after thirty-one years of service. He led the TxDot Retirees social events. He spent much of his time volunteering with St. Vincent de Paul Society and the ESL program at St. Ambrose Catholic Church. He also helped tutor students at Stevens Elementary. In his last years, he volunteered with the Social Service Ministries at St. John Vianney. He and his wife enjoyed many travels around the world during his long retirement. His deepest joy was to spend time with his grandchildren at home and on vacations together.The family would like to acknowledge Dr. Joel Abramowitz and his staff and the caregivers at Memorial City Hospital for the outstanding care given to Mauro all through out his illness.Visitation will be held at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. with Rosary service beginning at 7:00 p.m. The funeral mass will be held at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail, Houston, Texas 77079, on Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery.If you so choose, in lieu of flowers, you may donate to the organizations that Mauro volunteered with listed above.