Josephine Vivian Garcia

Josephine “Jo” Vivian Garcia (formerly Baca), 84, beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, lived a full and happy life. 

She was born in 1938 in Winslow, Arizona, to Ted and Julia Baca, and is survived by her sister Benita Montano. Her family moved to Los Lunas, New Mexico, when she was 10 years old.

Josephine loved to play the piano and would often entertain family and friends by playing the jitterbug. She also served as a reporter for her high school newspaper The Tiger’s Tale. 

Josephine loved her family with all of her heart and everything she did was for them. One of Josephine’s major accomplishments was celebrating 50 years of marriage to Ellerd Garcia. She first met Ellerd at a high school prom and married him six years later in 1962. 

They had five children Tom, Ron, Ed, Eric, and Stephanie. Throughout the years her family extended to four daughter-in-laws (Laurence, Marie, Sarah, and Frances), one son-in-law (Jonathan),  8 grandchildren, and two great grandchildren (with one on the way). 

Voted “most friendliest” in high school, Josephine continued to extend her love to everyone she met. Throughout the years, Josephine touched so many people’s lives with her outgoing personality, spirituality, and devotion to Christ. 

Josephine and her husband were part of the Cristo Rey Community in Albuquerque’s South Valley for over 30 years, establishing a familial bond with community members including Fr. Gene Ballweber, Quent Mischke, Aurora Apodaca; Art and Rozzanne Garcia; Antoinette Aragon, Tony and Bea Aragon; and Eddie and Maria Chavez.

Josephine was also one of the founding members of Women of the Word, a women’s Christian ministry. She started the ministry with Dora Romero and Carolyn Tenorio and formed a lifetime friendship and a legacy of women’s ministry that has lasted over thirty years. 

Josephine is survived by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sister, and preceded in death by her husband.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2023 at Daniels Family Funeral Funeral Service Carlisle Chapel at 11:00am with a reception to follow.