Damaris Hurtado de Garcia

It is with profound love and gratitude for her life that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend, Damaris Hurtado de Garcia. It was a sweet blessing being able to care for her during her final years. Though we will miss her presence dearly, we are thankful for the knowledge that she is now free of pain and at peace. Damaris crossed the veil peacefully, surrounded by her family on Friday, May 30th, 2025, at the age of 87 in West Jordan, Utah. Damaris was born on March 7th, 1938, in Belalcazar, Caldas, Colombia where she grew up between Manizales and on a nearby farm, with no running water or electricity. When she was 18, she moved to Cali, Colombia where she met the love of her life Jesus A Garcia Peña known as Mario Gareña and together they raised a family of 8 boys.

Damaris taught her children how to read and write, and the basics of math, so when they started school, they had a solid foundation. Damaris was a loving wife and mother, dedicated to service and teaching, coaching, supporting and being a friend to her boys. She loved music, dancing, cooking, table games, soap operas, picnics, and going to the movies. She would stir the imagination of her children by painting stories full of fantasy and by listening together to radio dramas. Her lessons and love shaped the lives of her children leaving an enduring legacy. Damaris was an active member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Bogota, during the early and mid-1970s, where she served and ministered to the poor, disabled and disadvantaged.

In the late 1970s Damaris joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where she found a piece of heaven here on earth. She experienced profound joy and spiritual fulfillment and introduced many of her friends to the restored gospel. She served a proselyting mission for the Church in Barranquilla, Colombia. In the 1990s, Damaris immigrated to the United States and became a citizen, settling in Utah to be near her growing family. At the time of her passing, she had 21 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

Damaris is survived by her sons, Arturo (Nilza) Garcia, Edgardo (Lisa) Garcia, Igor (Ceridwen) Garcia, Mario Y Garcia, Leandro Garcia and Leopoldo Garcia, her daughters in law Maria Virginia Garcia and Lynn Schow, her sisters Priscilla Hurtado and Amparo Hurtado. She is preceded in death by her husband Jesus A Garcia, her parents Cecilia Hurtado and Miguel Ramirez, her sons Ricardo (Maria Virginia) Garcia and Sergio Garcia.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who supported us in caring for our mom over the past few months.

A service to honor and celebrate Damaris' life and legacy of kindness and resilience will take place on Saturday, June 7th at 2 pm, at 8385 South 4800 West, West Jordan, Utah.