Manuela Garcia Banda, 91, of Waco, passed away peacefully at her home Thursday, January 26, 2017.
Manuela was born September 2, 1925 in Harlingen to Cenobio Garcia and Virginia Reyes. She was the widow of Joaquin Garcia whom she was married to for 47 years. They were blessed with 10 children. Manuela was a strong Catholic woman. She was a hard laborer and held many jobs in her time. She was the best cotton picker, cattle herder, and shrimp header The Valley of Port Isabel ever seen. Manuela lived 91 years, most of them in Brownsville. Later, she moved to Waco with her family and lived there the remainder of her lifetime. She was cared for by her loving grand-daughter, Maria Davalos and her family and also with the help of Hospice Home Healthcare. She was the best home maker around! This woman could make tortillas like she was a factory. She was the type of woman that would give the shirt off her back if she knew you were in need. The most amazing trait about her was she had the ability to heal and make you feel better. Known as a “curandera” (a woman who practiced folk medicine; an herb doctor) She was well known and respected from people far and near. She healed hundreds and all who knew her loved her like she was family as did she. However the best ability about her was she was full of love. She had enough hugs and kisses to go around for everyone. She was A SUPER grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-great grandmother. She had 35 grandkids, 58 great-great-grandkids and 11 great-great-great grandkids. She had love for all of them. A blessed family. There isn’t one person in her family that she didn’t help, love, care for, or spoil.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and siblings, Refugio Garcia, Leonor Salinas and Celedonio Garcia.
Manuela is survived by her daughters, Graciela Garza, Gloria Trevino and Eva Vasquez; and her sons, Pedro Banda, Fransico Banda, Oscar Banda, Jouquin Banda, Cenobio Banda, Martin Banda and Rene Banda.
Visitation: 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Monday, January 30th at Lake Shore Funeral Home where the Holy Rosary will commence at 6:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel.
Mass of Christian Burial: 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 31st at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with burial to follow at Waco Memorial Park.
Lake Shore Funeral Home & Cremation Services
Place of Service: Sacred Heart Catholic Church , 2621 Bagby; Waco, TX 76711
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So Sorry for your loss,May god comfort you at this time of sorrow.
I’m so sorry for your family’s loss. Please accept my sincere condolences. I personally know the loss of both a mother and grandmother, and the pain can seem overwhelming. However I found comfort in the Bible’s promise for the future. Acts 24:15 speaks of a resurrection, a time when God will reunite us with our loved ones again! I hope this helps bring some comfort in this time of sorrow.
I regret moving as I haven’t got the chance to come back to Waco, knowing that a day like this would come hurts and I miss her as she treated every last one of us as her children. She was strong and beautiful as no other because she will always hold a place in my heart no matter what.
My condolences 2 my mi familia on their loss of my tia. Their grandma n mother n sister. I luved Tia Mella. May she Rest IN PEACE now.