Dr. Sonia I. Garcia MD

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Sonia Isana Garcia, beloved mother to Christine Isana Garcia, grandmother to Eostrix Samuel Garcia-Freedman, sister to Nelia Camargo and Daisy Reodica, and aunt to Racel Aguila, on February 7, 2025, at the age of 88. Sonia transitioned peacefully into the arms of God at her home in Rochester, NY surrounded lovingly by family.
Sonia touched the lives of so many in her native country, the Philippines, as well as in her adopted home in Rochester, NY. Profoundly Catholic, she devoted her life to service in the name of the Lord through prayer groups and Catholic mass at her home, charity through the many children she supported through their schooling in Japan and the Philippines, and in innumerable acts of grace as she opened her heart and home to those who needed family, whether it was through a listening ear, prayers, a place to stay, and all the countless ways she made everyone she touched feel seen, heard, and loved.
Sonia, or Dr. Garcia to many, spent most of her life doing what she loved. She practiced pediatrics as chief pediatrician and founder of the Garcia Children's Clinic, a children's hospital in her hometown of Lucena City, Philippines. As a pediatrician who did her residency and specialty training in the United States at Boston Children's Hospital and Denver Children's Hospital from 1950-1960, she was able to bring state-of-the-art healing to children and families in Lucena City. Her patients loved her.
In Rochester, she held a solo pediatric practice for 36 years practicing medicine as she felt it should be.with love, care, and expertise, without much worry about a patient's ability to pay for needed healing (much to the chagrin of her accountant). Sonia answered phone calls directly from her patients after hours, held the hands of scared parents whose children were in the hospital, and cared for families beyond her call of duty. She has taken care of countless generations of Rochester families. In her last days, she was cared for by a nurse who was a former patient, and a doctor who was a former resident who trained under her at Strong Memorial Hospital. Sonia was an inspiration to many of her patients as they chose careers in nursing and medicine as a result of her care for them.
Sonia's greatest pride was her family. She adored her grandson who she showered with so much affection. In her final weeks, she was able to tell him how proud she was of him as she learned of his acceptance into a college that he wanted to attend. He gave her absolute joy. Sonia is survived by her daughter Christine, and her grandson Eostrix, of Berkeley, CA; her sisters Nelia of New York City and Daisy and brother-in-law Ronnie of the Philippines; and Racel of Rochester, NY.
Sonia was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Efren; her sister Norma; and her parents Ester and Gregorio.
Her legacy of kindness, resilience, faith, and love will live on in the very many whose lives she touched.
Friends may call Wednesday (Feb 12th) 4-7 PM at Vay-Schleich and Meeson, 1075 Long Pond Road. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday (Feb 13th) 9:30 AM at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 296 Flower City Park. Entombment, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.