Catherine Alliene Garcia

Mrs. Catherine “Kay” “Kathy” Alliene Garcia (née Ursanic) died peacefully on August 17th, 2021 at her home in Rio Rancho, NM at the age of 95.

Catherine is survived by her brother, Anthony Ursanic of Penfield, OH; daughter, Antonia Reidy and son in law, Dennis of Marietta, GA; son, Ben Ursanic and daughter in law, Anne of Hobbs, NM; daughter, Madeline Garcia of Rio Rancho, NM; grandchildren, James Pardee and wife Anita, Bernabe Pardee and wife Stephanie, Joseph Reidy and wife Mary, Marie Reidy, Christopher Ursanic and wife Mavi, Catherine Fitzgerald and husband Justin, Lydia Salmon and husband Lucas, Rachel Ursanic, Samuel Ursanic; great grandchildren, Bernabe Pardee, Catherine Pardee, Michael Pardee, Jonathan Pardee, David Pardee, Juliana Reidy, Nicholas Reidy, Julian Montoya, Isaac Ursanic, Emma Ursanic, Stoney Fitzgerald, Rhetta Fitzgerald, Rodger Salmon and Lyla Salmon. Catherine also leaves behind the faithful family dog Miss Genevieve Therese. Catherine is preceded in death by her husband, Bernabe Paul Garcia; mother, Mandaline Ursanic (née Vidacic); father, John Loren Ursanic, and sisters, Anna Noster, Jeanette DuMont, and Celia Noster.

Catherine was born on September 22nd, 1925 in Penfield Township of Wellington, Ohio to parents Mandaline Ursanic (née Vidacic) and John Loren Ursanic. She graduated from Penfield High School in 1944. In 1945 she started work as a “Rosie the Riveter” on the wings of B-29 Bombers at the Cleveland Bomber Plant and traveled to Phoenix, Arizona to help build more aircraft. During her time in Phoenix, one experience she had was meeting Cesar Romero (Batman, Ocean’s 11). She and a friend were walking to work and were offered a ride from him. Elated, the girls accepted, seating themselves on either side of him and left with quite the story to tell! From 1948 to 1950 she worked as a Telegraphic Typist for American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T) in Cleveland, OH.  In 1951 she Joined the United States Air Force where she was a part of the 25th Communications Squadron Command. After an Honorable Discharge from The USAF in Wiesbaden, Germany, with ending rank of S Sgt. (T) in April of 1953, just 29 days later, she married husband Bernabe Paul Garcia, with whom she continued to live happily for over 60 years. In the sixties she worked for a period as an IBM operator. Thereafter she devoted herself to her husband and family.

Other special skills and hobbies of hers included knitting, gardening and playing instruments such as the piano, organ and accordion. Catherine was also a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church located at 1502 Sara Rd SE, Rio Rancho, NM, 87124.

Her children and grandchildren would all agree she was a loving, caring and talented woman, as well as a mother of deep faith and courage. Catherine will be greatly missed, for she was a wonderful blessing in all the lives she touched.