Esperanza Garcia

Esperanza (Hope) Garcia of New Braunfels passed away on Jan. 30 at the age of 78. She was preceded in death by her parents Cosme and Blasa Molina, husband Nolbert Garcia Sr., son Nolbert Garcia Jr., sister Erlinda Molina, and brother Steven Molina.

Esperanza is survived by her children Rose Rodriguez (& Art), Rachel Cantu, Nolbert Garcia Jr. (& Heather), Norman Garcia (& Tracy) and Noel Garcia (& Suzette). She is also survived by her grandchildren, Sam (& Amy), Francisco, Phillip (& Jenna), Alex, Justin (& Ginger), Joshua, Elisha, Shaelyn, Mona, Sophia, Rowan, Josiah, Isaiah and Hazel. She is survived by her siblings Elisa Rodriguez, Enrique Molina, Jose Molina, Elias Molina, Cosme Molina Jr., Hector Molina, Estella Molina, and Elia Molina. She is also survived by many beloved great grandchildren.

Esperanza was born and raised in Gonzales, Texas. She married Nolbert Garcia Sr. on December 26, 1959. They moved to Wisconsin, where they lived for nine years. After the death of her first son, Nolbert Jr. she moved back to Gonzales and raised five children surrounded and supported by her large family. She attended Sacred Heart church as was a member of the Guadalupanas. After children were grown, she went on to earn her GED, and after much encouragement from her children she attended Howard Payne University, where she earned her degree in Spanish and education. She graduated with her youngest son, Noel, in 2000 at the age of 60. Through the years, she worked for Hatchery, Walmart, Girling Health Care services, Small World Day Care, Head Start, and Howard Payne University. She moved to New Braunfels in 2004, where she soon retired.

Esperanza took great joy in caring for the elderly and teaching children of all ages. She happily cared for many of her grandchildren and great grandchildren without hesitancy whenever anyone asked. She loved to sing and to dance, and Esperanza adored her enormous family. She was famous for hosting huge family gatherings and for cooking amazing meals. You could taste the love in her cooking! If you came to her house as a friend, you left as a treasured part of her family. The walls of her home expanded, as did her heart, with every person that entered her door. Her life was a magnificent journey which inspired us all! Her love enveloped us, her laughter cheered us, her strength encouraged us, her cooking comforted us, and her deep faith in God carried us!

She believed in God, in us, and in miracles, and her life was evidence that they exist! Through hardship in her life, God gave her “a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” (Isaiah 61:3) As Proverbs declares, “Her children arise and call her blessed.” (Proverbs 31:28) Although she is gone physically from this world, she is not truly gone. She will always be with us in our hearts, and we will carry on her legacy of faith, love and HOPE!