Filia (Fillie) M. Garcia, 94, a resident of Rio Rancho, NM and a former long time resident of Taos, NM, passed away on January 28, 2008 at Sandia Springs Memory Care in Rio Rancho, NM, from Alzheimer disease. She is preceded in death by her husband of 33 years, Manuel Garcia and her beloved god son Michael Sandoval, son of cousin, Fred. Fillie and Manuel owned and operated Garcia's Funeral Home and Fillie's Beauty shop in Taos until his death in 1979. Fillie was reared from infancy after her birth mother died, by her father's sister, Anita T. Mares (deceased in 1987) whom she always called "mother". Fillie was Anita's only child and Fillie had no children of her own, Fillie Garcia is survived by several first cousins; Fred M. Sandoval, her legal guardian conservator and his wife Bertha of Rio Rancho, NM; Sylvia S. Gale of Albuquerque, NM; Josephine S. Sprigg of Rio Rancho, NM; Ophelia S. Rinaldi of Bernalillo, NM; Jose B. Sandoval (deceased Feb 2007), wife Rose of Espanola, NM; Rupert Sandoval and wife Anita of Pheonix, AZ; Beatrice Deveaus and Marian Gusdorf of Taos, NM; Josephine Valerio (half sister) and Roy of UT, and numerous children of her cousins. Fillie was known for her generosity and friendly disposition.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Rivera Family Mortuaries with Catholic Mass of Christian burial to be celebrated at Our Lady Of Guadalupe Parish in Taos, NM on Saturday, February 09, 2008 at 11 AM. Interment to follow at Nazareno Cemetery in Ranchos de Taos along side her husband Manuel.