Maria 'Maruca' Garza

Maria “Maruca” Garza, 73, of Moses Lake, Washington died Thursday morning August 14, 2009, at Highline Hospital in Burien, Washington.  She fought a valiant fight against her illness and was welcomed by our blessed Father in heaven.

Maria was born December 24, 1935 in Los Ramones, Nuevo León, México to Rafaela Ochoa Pena and Alejandro Pena.  As an infant she was confronted by her father’s tragic accident which forced her mother to make a great sacrifice of love by giving her child to her sister-in-law to raise as her own while she attended to her injured husband and her remaining children.  Maria began a new life in the home and hearts of Santos Pena Valdez and Esmeregildo Valdez in San Benito, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.  Maria was met with the adversity of her birth circumstance but grew into a spirited soul due to the loving, generous, giving hearts of the Valdez family.  Maria was a devoted and dedicated daughter until the age of 24 when she married Juan Pablo Garza.

Maria and Pablo, were married in March of 1959 after a long separation and courtship.  In December of 1959 they welcomed the first of six children.  They worked hard and sacrificed much to provide for their small family, moving from San Benito, Mexico to work the fields in California and Washington.  The family set down roots in Moses Lake, Washington in 1963 thousands of miles from their parents, relatives and country.  Maria quickly adapted to her new country by living the American Dream, working hard to buy a home.  In this modest home she raised her children and opened the doors of her home to many relatives transitioning into the area.  Maria, while she was never formally educated, grew into a wise woman through each challenge and change; she always made for the love for her family and their future. Maria lived to serve, to laugh and to love, earning the respect and adoration of those she touched.  She will be sadly missed but she left a legacy of family, faith, strength, truth, honesty, and service.

Maria was preceded in death by her loving son, Jesus Gerardo Garza, her two sets of parents, son-in-law Johnny Lee Crowder and 12 siblings. She is survived by her husband, Pablo and her remaining children, Paul (Kim) of Moses Lake, Maria (Juan) of Seattle, Blanca (Isidoro) of Othello, Sandy (Gene) of Moses Lake, Sonya of Moses Lake, 5 granddaughters, 5 grandsons and her 4 siblings, Guillermo Valdez, Chon Valdez, Santos Valdez and Victoria Vela.

Viewing for family and friends was held Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, in Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church with Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 11 a.m. with Rev. Tomas Vidal and Deacon Francisco Martinez officiating in Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 200 N. Dale Rd., Moses Lake. Burial and concluding services were held in Pioneer Memorial Gardens, Moses Lake.

Please visit www.carverfamilyfuneralhome.com to leave a note or message for Maria’s family and sign the online guest book. Maria’s family has asked Carver Family Funeral Home, Moses Lake to care for final arrangements.