Ynocencia Garcia Valdez

Ynocencia "Chencha, Chacha, Becas" Garcia Valdez went to heaven on September 6, 2022 in Burbank, California. She was the youngest child born to Pablo Galvan Garcia and Carmen Ramirez Garcia.  She was born on February 4, 1942, and raised on her family ranch in Millett, Texas.  She married in her early 20's and came out west to California with her husband, where they settled, and she raised her three daughters, Yolanda, Amanda, and Carmen Michelle.

She was in California all of her adult life and for a time lived in Hawaii, living on the Big Island in Pahoa, and in Hilo for several years. She loved the Big Island very much. She cherished every friend and every person she had ever met on the islands. However, she was a true Texan.  Always remembering and loving where she came from.  She loved her siblings very much, and the ranch that she was born and raised on.  She held in highest regard, and had the utmost respect for her eldest brother Juan Garcia and eldest sister Angelita Garcia Segovia who raised her, due to her parents passing away when she was very young.  She also loved and never forgot her extended family and dear friends.

She was a devout Christian, who served Christ faithfully. She ministered in prisons in California for many years, orphanages in Mexico, and in her local parishes in both California and Hawaii. She had no reservations expressing her love for her Lord and Savior. She was charismatic, and was instrumental in starting the catholic charismatic group in Burbank, and yearly attending SCRC, catholic renewal meetings and conventions.

When she lived on the Big Island in Hawaii, she served alongside the nuns and priests of her parish. She also attended church services regularly and served faithfully where her son-in-law was the pastor in Pahoa. She always made herself available to the church, whenever and wherever needed. She was an incredible prayer warrior, one who would pray and pray and pray until something happened.

She was trilingual.  She spoke English, Spanish and was fluent in American Sign Language.  She was a sign language interpreter in churches in both California and Hawaii, serving also at churches for the deaf, making herself available, yet again, at all times whenever needed.

She had many joys in her life, but one of her most memorable and most precious was when she traveled to Israel.  She went to Bethlehem where Jesus was born and walked the Villa De La Rosa where Jesus had been.  She swam in the waters where Jesus was baptized. She loved that.

She was also an entertainer, always bringing hope and joy to people in retirement homes and in assisted living facilities, at any backyard party, wedding, birthday, or anniversary.  She loved to entertain for any occasion.  She played the piano and ukulele beautifully.  She was advanced in her skills and was multitalented.  She read music well, but because she had such an excellent ear, she could play whatever you wanted at any time, at your request.

She was also a medical professional in her early years, obtaining certifications that allowed her to work as a medical assistant at St. Joseph's Medical Center and Sierra Memorial Hospital, as well as other medical facilities as needed.  

She loved to learn. To continue her love for learning, she attended Glendale Community College, where she took child development and American Sign Language classes in order to work with the deaf for the Burbank Unified School District.  

She was a successful full time cosmetologist for 35 years, never fully wanting to retire due to just loving what she did.  She loved people and being with them.  She loved making them look beautiful.  It brought her joy.  She always kept her cosmetologist license up to date.  She renewed it this year yet again, valid through 2024.

She was an excellent homemaker and cook, an excellent host and an excellent dancer, winning contests here and there, and always having more energy than anyone else on the dance floor. She loved the holidays. She loved making her delicious tamales every Christmas, as it brought her so much joy to share them with everyone she knew.

She was warm, very loving and kind.  She was caring.  She had a sincerely forgiving heart and was quick to make peace and forgive.  She was pure. She was genuine. She was an encourager.  She was full of life, outgoing and bubbly.  She was strong and lived a fearless life.  There was never a moment wasted. She was a doer, and an accomplished woman.  She never stopped improving, never stopped learning, never stopped practicing, never stopped exercising, walking, swimming or going to the gym.  She never stopped singing, and she never stopped dancing.  She used everything God gave her in life, and with it, she thrived.

She was beautiful.  She was an excellent mom, an excellent grandmother, and an excellent friend.  She was an excellent everything.  Words cannot convey how much she will be missed.  

Her parents Pablo Galvan Garcia and Carmen Ramirez Garcia procede her in death along with her siblings, Juan Garcia, Pablo Garcia Jr., Ismael R. Garcia, Guadalupe Garcia, Matias Garcia, Ramon Garcia and Angelita Garcia Segovia, and grandson, Amador Corona.

She is survived by her daughters, Yolanda G. (Jeffrey) Saylor, Amanda Christina (Robert) Pagliari, Carmen Michelle (Armando) Corona each of California, her sister Petra G. Trevino of Pearsall, Texas, and her grandchildren, nephews and nieces, along with her many cousins, relatives and extended family.


Services will be held at the Old North Church
on Monday, October 24, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. noon
located at: Forest Lawn Memorial Hollywood Hills
6300 Forest Lawn Drive Los Angeles, California 90068