Geraldine (Cordova) Garcia

Geri Cordova Garcia, 79, of Easton, MD received her angel wings on August 01, 2023 after a long term illness.  She had her 2 daughters, Ginger and Julie and their families by her side throughout this journey of Dementia.

Geri Garcia was born on August 14, 1943 to Viola Zamora and Pedro Cordova in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She was also raised by her stepfather, Henry Garcia. She met her future husband, Graham Guinn there and fell in love.  He soon after moved her to Richmond, Va where they would raise 4 children together. In Richmond, she was a homemaker, tending to their children until the youngest was 8 years old.  Geri and Graham owned a restaurant and full service gas station/convenient store from 1983 To 1993. When she wasn’t working, she loved to go fishing. She also had a great love for dogs. She would talk to her dogs in English and Spanish. She loved vacationing at the beach with Ginger. Some fond memories of her was when she would go to school lunches on her kid’s birthdays or her taking them out of school to go fishing or go to the movie theater to see a scary movie. She always kept you on your toes.

Years after separating from Graham, Geri moved to Easton, MD in 2013 to be near me (Julie), Ed and our 3 kids. She spent some of her time translating for the Hispanic community.  She was a tough little 4’10” Mama with a very spicy attitude, but everyone seemed to love that about her. 

The last several years were hard for her as she was starting to notice signs of dementia. Despite the mental and physical decline in her health, she still wanted to live life and she continued her spiciness until the very end. Those of you who had a chance to meet Geri Garcia, will remember her forever.  She unfortunately had a life time of hurt and sometimes was apprehensive to love and didn’t know how to accept love.  This changed as her dementia progressed.  There are silver linings around each cloud, and the silver lining around her dementia was that she forgot the emotional and physical pain she endured in her lifetime.  It was like a new start, a redo.  I got to experience this first hand her last 10 months of life.

When I walked into the nursing home, she would clap her hands like an excited child and announced to everyone that I was her daughter. She eventually forgot my name, but always lit up when I visited everyday. She would cry with happiness when I brought her bananas, cookies, ice cream. She listened as I read her books and sang songs in my terrible voice, but always made me feel like a movie star. She loved for me to put makeup on her and braid her hair. Even around 2:30a.m, a few hours before passing, I put makeup on her. I handed her the mirror, she gently pressed her lips together and gave a small smile as a final sign of approval.   She loved to get phone calls and visits from my sister, Ginger and her family.  In the last months, she and Graham reconnected and he would tell her he loved her every time they talked on the phone. Everything came full circle. She knew how to love again and to be loved. I thank God everyday that I got to walk this journey with her, sometimes she was tired and I had to carry her but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  I got to walk with her until the very end, hold her hand until she took her last breaths and for all of this I am so grateful. I will say I have always loved my Mama, but along this journey I fell in love with her all over again.

She is predeceased in death by her Mom Viola, Dad Pedro and Stepdad Henry. Her brothers Peter, Bernie and Bert Cordova.  She is survived by her Brother Manuel Cordova (Kay). Sons Daniel Garcia (his son Danbert) and  Darrell Guinn. Daughters Viola Dawson (Jim) grandchildren  Justin, Joshua & Erica who gave her 2 great grandchildren. Ginger Shoults (Alex) and grandchildren Brandon and Summer. Julie Burgstahler (Ed) and grandchildren Eddie, Von and Reis.

“Until we meet again my sweet Mama”

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