Sister Ana Lina Garcia was born in Valladolid, Spain, April 12, 1926 to Gregorio and Jeronima (Arenillas) Garcia. She entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in Pamplona, Spain. After making her First Vows in 1958, Sister Garcia was missioned to the FMM community in Vatican City, Italy, and after Final Vows (1961), to the United States.
A member of the FMM community in Harlem, N.Y., she worked as a group mother and supervisor of infants in McMahon Child Care Shelter. Later, from 1977 – 2002, she worked as a Social Worker Aide and in the Records Room at McMahon Services, which had moved to New York City. During this time, Sister Garcia was a member of the FMM community at East 45th Street.
She studied Advanced Child Care at Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of New York. Her knowledge and experience enabled her to fill the position of supervisor. Her special skills in sewing and making vestments perfected when in Vatican City continued to be appreciated and of tremendous value. When in the Vatican, she used her talents in the service of Saint Pope John XXIII. Also of note, Sister Garcia had a speaking knowledge of Spanish, Italian, French and English which endeared her to so many.
Sister Garcia was missioned to Waukegan, Illinois, where she collaborated in social ministry among the poor in the parish. After several years, there, she was missioned to Trinity Community, Fruit Hill, North Providence and later to St. Antoine Residence in North Smithfield.
She is survived by sister in law Angelines Gomez and Josefina Sebastian and several nieces and nephews who live in Spain.
A funeral was celebrated on Tuesday, Nov. 29, in the Holy Family Chapel, North Providence, with burial in Holy Family Cemetery.
