1940 - 2021
With broken hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved Francisco “Kit” Garcia on March 13, 2021 at the age of 80, in Edmonton, Alberta. Our hero bravely fought his illness to the end with fire in his belly and prayer in his heart.
Growing up in Magdalena, Philippines, Kit enjoyed all the fun, frivolity, challenges, and most of all love, with his parents, 7 siblings, extended family, and many friends. And there was basketball; lots of basketball.
Kit met the love of his life of 50+ years, Maida when they were kids. When she immigrated to Canada in 1968, he followed her there in the cold winter of November 1970. They married on January 2, 1971 in Edmonton.
Kit worked tremendously hard to provide for his family. Many of his colleagues at Link Hardware became his lifelong friends. He attracted many more friends at his time at the Government of Alberta’s Public Works Supply and Services, and at Grimshaw Trucking where he often shared his mouth-watering Filipino lunches with his co-workers.
Kit loved to travel. Actually, other than camping/fishing trips and family vacations to Vegas and California, it was Maida who loved to travel. But, when they arrived at their destinations, Kit was always happy to have made the trip. With their many kumares and kumpares, they toured Eastern Canada, the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Kit was thrilled to have fulfilled one of his childhood dreams when he visited the Great Wall of China.
Kit’s greatest joy was the Party of 10 he built with Maida in St. Albert, which includes their children, Grace (Jason) Garcia Cooke and Darren (Christina) Garcia; and his greatest loves, his four grandchildren: Alex, Jadalyn, Sophia, and Ronin. On a family trip to Hawaii in 2019, Kit declared that having his whole family together in tropical paradise was “perfection.” Kit also leaves to mourn him, his sisters, Lilia de Jesus, Nenita Hansen, and Cynthia (Marvin) Velante; his brother, Juanito Garcia; his sisters-in-law, Sonia Velker and Elizabeth Sune; many nieces, nephews, and their children; and so many close friends.
We have felt the tremendous outpouring of love and prayers from those who were lucky enough to know Kit. We are grateful for the countless memories of Kit’s kindness, generosity, and humour that have been shared with us during this challenging time for our family.
Kit was predeceased by his parents, Bernardo Garcia Sr. and Carmen Garcia; brothers, Luisito Garcia, Bernardo Garcia Jr., and Cesar Garcia; sisters-in-law, Emerita Garcia and Elizabeth Garcia; and brothers-in-law, Ramon de Jesus Sr., Celso Sune Jr., Henry Hansen, and Merlin Velker.
We would also like to express our gratitude to the many doctors, nurses, and health care workers who provided care and kindness to Kit throughout his time at the University of Alberta Hospital, Grandview Post-Acute Unit, and the Cross Cancer Institute, particularly during this pandemic.
A visitation will be held at Connelly-McKinley Funeral Home, 9 Muir Dr., St. Albert on Thursday, March 18, 2021 from 5:00-9:00 pm.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, please RSVP to [email protected] to receive a designated time to attend.
A private Funeral Mass followed by interment at Holy Cross Cemetery will be held on Friday, March 19, 2021 with invited family members.
Should you wish, please support the Canadian Cancer Society at www.cancer.ca.
“In life, we loved you dearly, in death we love you still. In our hearts you hold a place, no one else will ever fill.” -Unknown.
To send condolences, please visit www.connelly-mckinley.com.
Connelly-McKinley Funeral Home
(780) 458-2222
