Lydia V. Garcia

Born September 20, 1936 and died on May 5, 2023. Lydia was preceded in death by her grandparents Jose Antonio Vigil and Maria Higinia Vigil, her parents Guadalupe Elias Vigil and Maria Inez Vigil, one daughter named Maria Oakley, two sisters, Betty Yepez and Sarah Tablit.  Also preceded by six nephews; Eddie Yepez, Paul Romero, Michael Martinez, David Martinez, Anthony Mondragon, and Raymond Vigil; Uncles Mike Vigil, Paul Vigil, Tony Vigil, J.A. Maes, Pablo Martinez and Rafa Martinez;  Aunts Martina Casaus, Refufio Barela, Tommy Mondragon, Juanita Sandoval, Rose Vigil and Sister Antonita Vigil; Cousins Edward Barela, Rodney Barela, Ruby Barela, Loren Sandoval, Francis Sandoval, Malacias Casaus and Peter Vigil; Grandson Guadalupe Elias Ayala, and husband Leroy Garcia. She is survived by two sisters, Sophia Brown, and Augustina Romero and their children and grandchildren.  A special thanks to Denise Martinez, and her children Santiago, Samantha and Pablito, and her God daughter Anna Pacheco. She is also survived by five sons, Anthony, David and Floyd Ayala, Andy and Rumaldo Garcia, three daughters, Paula Ann Garcia, Yonne Garcia, Barbara Bush and their children; Shavon, Madison, Elias, David, Anthony, Michael, Lydia, Danielle, Ryan, Jessica, and Ethan; and several great-grandchildren. She is also survived by several first cousins: Della, Merlinda, Dora; Mario, Jimmy and Manuel Barela, Flora Olson, Addie Etl, Virgina Plueball, Cedelia Sanchez, and Alice Meyers, Elmo and Geraldine Mondragon, Huda Quassam, Diana Gurule, Gloria Godine, Leroy Vigil, Nora Perea, Armando Sandoval, Maria Dimas, Leo, Lawrence, George and Manny Vigil, Sylvia Gonzales, Millie Vigil, Anna Vigil, Norman Vigil, David and Michael Maes. She will be deeply missed by her many friends, including Margie Romero, Debbie Ayala, Yaretzi Dimas, Anthony Jaramillo, Ricardo Pong, Dolores Pong, David Rodriguez, Dahlia Cordova and Tony Cordova, and many others from Taos and the rest of New Mexico. A viewing will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Rivera Family Funeral home on Friday, May 26, 2023. A Rosary will be held on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. at San Francisco de Asis church in Ranchos de Taos, N.M. A mass will be held on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at San Francisco de Asis church in Ranchos de Taos, N.M. Arrangements by Rivera Family Funeral Home.  To share a memory, please use their website at www.riverafuneralhome.com  God saw you were getting tired; that you had stopped painting, carving, laughing or walking.  So he put his arms around you and whispered, “Come with me”.  With tearful eyes we watched you grow grey, old, and broken, but never forgetting your daily prayers, including the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi.  We saw you fade under the care of hospice, and ultimately from the last rites from a Catholic priest.  Although as your children we could not make you stay; despite the fact that you had always been our loving Mother; with the red chili, fresh tortillas, all the art shows, and the painting and wood carving lessons for us and our children.  A heart of solid gold stopped beating, your artist hands stopped carving retablos and painting little angels or attending daily mass in Ranchos with Nora Perea and Margie Romero; God broke our hearts to prove to us . . . He only takes the best.  We’ll always cherish you and our Hispanic artist roots.