Carolina Garcia Ramirez

This morning we are honoring and celebrating my mother, Carolina Garcia Ramirez who gained her angel wings on September 14, 2023 in Bakersfield, Ca. She would be very grateful and honored to see all of you that made it possible to be here close and from afar. It was her family who was the most important focus of her life, including her grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom she loved beyond measure. It was your continual love, prayers and support that were so valuable to her in her final weeks.
My mother was a woman of grace, courage, and had a stubborn streak when she set her mind to do something. For example: while she was in the rehabilitation center she had physical and occupational therapy for 3.5 hours a day. She was determined to give this therapy her all because she wanted to be able to go to the bathroom independently once she returned home.
Mom was the most giving person I've ever met, even if she didn't have much she was willing to give to someone in need. She was also a woman of many adjectives; such as, beautiful, humble, caring, thoughtful, kind, courageous, and hard working. A few of her hobbies throughout her life were knitting and crocheting blankets that she would gift to her children and grandchildren. She also collected many tea pots that left her with many memories as these were gifted to her by loved ones.
In life we face many challenges, my mom was no different as she also faced those challenges. Afterall, she did raise 15 children!! She was very disciplined with her time as her weeks would be filled with many tasks for her family. She had a day to sweep, mop, and polish the floors, a day to clean, a day to do laundry, and a day for ironing and sewing. Mom would sew all of our clothes out of flour sacks that we will be forever grateful for. Our breakfast and dinners would consist of two stacks of fresh flour tortillas two times a day that she would prepare for us. Once we would enter our house, all of our shoes would be taken off and lined up nicely by the front door. Having to live in a 4 bedroom and 1 bath apartment, you would see us line up in the hallway waiting patiently to wash up or bathe. As we became adults and parents we realized how she worked tirelessly for her family. She was not a perfect women/mother by any stretch of imagination but she set an example of determination, courage, love of God, and unity of a family. She will always be remembered as the matriarch of the Ramirez family and a God-fearing woman.
To her last day, she was able to show her sense of humor and crack a joke about finding an old man or dancing the cha-cha moving her shoulders up and down. Her final moments were focused on her children. She said to us, "I want you all to meet at Liz's for breakfast and for there to be no arguing and for everyone to be in agreement. Always serve God and serve him with fear." Her final prayer with us was "Padre Santo, bendigo a mis hijos que me los cuide. Que ellos siempre te sirvan. Te alabo por tu misericordia sobre nosotros. Te adoramos para siempre. Amen!" Translation: Heavenly Father, bless all my children and take care of them. That they may always serve you. I thank you for your mercy over us. We will always praise you. Amen.
Carolina is survived by her three sons, Josue Ramirez (Martha), Robert Campbell (Susana), and Mike Ramirez (Celia); nine daughters, Connie Maldonado (Cain), Moni Moya, Geni Friend (Marty), Susie Harmer (Jim), Elizabeth Grodewald (Scott), Martha Alvarado (Gilbert), Addie Waller (Blaine), Hope Moreno (Tony), Juanita Arce (Ernest); 52 grandchildren, 114 great grandchildren, and 8 great-great grandchildren; and her brother, Daniel Garcia. Carolina was preceded in death by her husband, Jesus Ramirez; sons, Jesus Jr. and Joey Ramirez; daughter, Bea Ramirez; and brother, Pablo Garcia.