Dr. Sonia I. Garcia, MD
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It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Sonia Isana Garcia, beloved mother to Christine Isana Garcia, grandmother to Eostrix Samuel Garcia-Freedman, sister to Nelia Camargo and Daisy Reodica, and aunt to Racel Aguila, on February 7, 2025, at the age of 88. Sonia transitioned peacefully into the arms of God at her home in Rochester, NY surrounded lovingly by family.
Sonia touched the lives of so many in her native country, the Philippines, as well as in her adopted home in Rochester, NY. Profoundly Catholic, she devoted her life to service in the name of the Lord through prayer groups and Catholic mass at her home, charity through the many children she supported through their schooling in Japan and the Philippines, and in innumerable acts of grace as she opened her heart and home to those who needed family, whether it was through a listening ear, prayers, a place to stay, and all the countless ways she made everyone she touched feel seen, heard, and loved.
Sonia, or Dr. Garcia to many, spent most of her life doing what she loved. She practiced pediatrics as chief pediatrician and founder of the Garcia Children’s Clinic, a children’s hospital in her hometown of Lucena City, Philippines. As a pediatrician who did her residency and specialty training in the United States at Boston Children’s Hospital and Denver Children’s Hospital from 1950-1960, she was able to bring state-of-the-art healing to children and families in Lucena City. Her patients loved her.
In Rochester, she held a solo pediatric practice for 36 years practicing medicine as she felt it should be….with love, care, and expertise, without much worry about a patient’s ability to pay for needed healing (much to the chagrin of her accountant). Sonia answered phone calls directly from her patients after hours, held the hands of scared parents whose children were in the hospital, and cared for families beyond her call of duty. She has taken care of countless generations of Rochester families. In her last days, she was cared for by a nurse who was a former patient, and a doctor who was a former resident who trained under her at Strong Memorial Hospital. Sonia was an inspiration to many of her patients as they chose careers in nursing and medicine as a result of her care for them.
Sonia’s greatest pride was her family. She adored her grandson who she showered with so much affection. In her final weeks, she was able to tell him how proud she was of him as she learned of his acceptance into a college that he wanted to attend. He gave her absolute joy. Sonia is survived by her daughter Christine, and her grandson Eostrix, of Berkeley, CA; her sisters Nelia of New York City and Daisy and brother-in-law Ronnie of the Philippines; and Racel of Rochester, NY.
Sonia was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Efren; her sister Norma; and her parents Ester and Gregorio.
Her legacy of kindness, resilience, faith, and love will live on in the very many whose lives she touched.
Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come
- Rabindranath Tagore
Friends may call Wednesday (Feb 12th) 4-7 PM at Vay-Schleich and Meeson, 1075 Long Pond Road. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday (Feb 13th) 9:30 AM at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 296 Flower City Park. Entombment, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
“Rest in peace, Sonia. My condolences to you and your loved ones. May her memory be a blessing, and may you find strength in the love surrounding you.”
May Sonia’s soul rest in peace, and may her legacy live on through the countless lives she touched.
Ameen
Dr Garcia was a wonderful, caring, gifted person. She provided loving care to our two children…both of whom grew up healthy due to her care. Sending her hugs and love.
Dr Garcia was our pediatrician for both my children. Always so sweet and kind. God bless her and may God comfort her loved ones
Dr. Garcia was my doctor from the time I was born until she retired. She was a wonderful person and a wonderful doctor. She will be missed. My condolences to her family and loved ones.
Dr. Garcia was all 3 of my children Doctor she was a loving and kind person she was always there for you if you had a question and you needed to talk to her she always took phone calls from us and told us what to do. She will certainly be missed sending prayers for her family and loved ones.
Dr Garcia saved the lives of both of my daughters when they were critically ill I am forever grateful She was a blessing in our family May God bless you and keep you Dr Garcia
Dr. Garcia was my daughters pediatrician. the night they were born, she was there checking them out. Her husband waited for her in the car while she made her rounds. we were very blessed to have known her. She was truly an Angel on this earth.
Deepest condolences to Dr. Garcia‘s family on behalf of the University of Rochester Center for Primary Care
My condolences to Dr. Garcia’s family & friends.
We got to know Dr. Garcia through a former patient of hers. We just loved her! She took care of our daughter for 16 years, and it was very hard. to leave her when we had to. There wasn’t anyone like Dr. Garcia!
I know my grandchildren would have been her patients if they lived closer.
Again, my condolences.
She was a truly amazing human! I wasn’t scared of the doctor because she was so kind and gentle. She touched the lives of so many people!
I’m deeply sorry to hear on Tita Sonia’s passing. She was such a wonderful part of our family, and I know how much she meant to all of us. I hope you find comfort in the beautiful memories she had shared to a lot of us. She will surely be missed. We all love love you Sonia – on behalf of Roger and Loleng Pastrana family.
Dr Garcia was my pediatrician as a child. I was one of her first pt’s at her private practice. She cared for me and my 3 siblings. I remember going to her first office which was at her home in Greece on Fetzner Rd. I was a complicated sick child and she cared for me well. Even as a complicated teenager, I knew I could always reach out to her about anything. We loved her so much that when my siblings and I started our own families she became our children’s pediatrician until she retired. She always squeezed us in no matter how busy she was. As an adult and mother myself, bringing my children in as her patients, she always asked how I was doing in my own health and how my siblings and parents were doing. Her face lit up when she would see me and always told me stories of when I was little. I always felt like I had VIP treatment in her office. She will be sorely missed. May you rest in eternal peace Dr Garcia. Thank you for all the care you provided to me and my children over the years.
Rest in eternal peace Dr Garcia. Our family will never forget your expertise, kindness, and grace you bestowed on our family.
When I heard that Sonia passed away, I imagined Mama Mary coming to bring her Home. For such was her devotion to Mama Mary – always faithful, deep and abiding. And she lived her faith with her all: in loving her family, in caring for her patients – of whom my son, Christian, was one – in opening her heart and home to friends and countless faithful and, now I just learned, her generosity to those in need in Philippines. I feel so blessed to have her as a friend. Like fellow travelers in this Holy Journey, she encouraged me to push ahead and live my faith. Thank you, Sonia! I imagine you in Heaven, surrounded by God’s glory and immersed in His gentle presence and joy. I pray that God take your family in His arms and dry their tears; that He continue to sustain them in His Love.
I worked with Dr Garcia for several years , at Spencerport and at she took practice at stone rd and mt read. She was loved by many patients as well as her employees. She always treated the patients with the upmost of care and I always enjoyed working with her. I am sure she will be missed . I knew her husband and Christine. I can remember going over to her house for parties and she always made me feel welcome. She was a wonderful lady and a great friend and a terrific doctor.
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My daughter is a General Pediatrician just like Dr Garcia who was her inspiration. Dr Garcia came to my daughter’s medical school graduation which thrilled my daughter. All four of my children were cared for by Dr Garcia and received wonderful care.
You will be miss and love always. Know as family friend
Of course seen our daughter grow up 1st grade to high school college and marriages. You and your husband was a pleasure to know. Love your friend donna and tom rich
Christine and family, know that your mom was a wonderful, caring and loving woman. She was my two (now grown) children’s pediatrician. They loved their Dr. Garcia, in fact I remember when they became of age to transfer to a primary doctor, they both said no. They wanted to stay with Dr. Garcia. I remember the many calls when either of my kids were sick, she was always there to reassure me they would be okay. I always remember her shopping at Sam’s Club for the migrant workers in our areas. She will never be forgotten by any of us parents or children. RIP Doctor Garcia.🙏🙏🙏
Dr. Garcia was both my children’s pediatrician. So kind and soft spoken. Prayers to Dr Garcia family and friends
Dr Garcia was a wonderful doctor. My kids loved her so much. She was such a kind and caring woman. Rest in peace 🙏 The Cammarata family
Dr Garcia was a pediatrician for our three children all the way to adulthood. She was a kind, caring doctor always there for us. Our family loved her. She was an angel on earth and I’m sure now an angel in heaven. May she rest in peace.
Our deepest sympathy to your family.
The Maiola family
Christine and Sam,
Sending you both love and hugs as you grieve for your mother/grandmother.
Christine, after learning more about your mother’s commitment to healing and family, I’m thinking how much you’ve followed in her footsteps and emulate her integrity and commitment to families.
Sincerely,
Lu
Our three children were patients of Dr Garcia from the time she worked out of her raised ranch office in Greece. Whenever our youngest daughter was ill, she asked for Dr Garcia, actually “Gahka Seeya,” from when she was 18 mos. It gave me great joy that my child, because of this kind woman, she never feared going to the doctor. To this day she still thinks of Dr Garcia’s kind hands and wishes she lived closer for her own little girl. When her own daughter was treated for an ear infection and was prescribed Amoxicillin (aka bubble gum medicine), it brought back memories of “Gahka Seeya!”
My older children also loved her dearly. So much so that when my son’s daughters were born, he had them go to Dr Garcia as well.
When I saw Dr Garcia at St. Jude’s Church she always asked with sincerity how my children and granddaughters were doing.
I believe that because of her early care, our children developed a respect for seeking proper medical care and wellness checkups.
Thank you Dr Garcia, for caring for me all those years. from birth through college, even when I was too old to be under the pediatric umbrella she still saw me– when I was very sick with mono and hadn’t found an adult primary care dr yet she said I could come in to see her. I still don’t think I’ll ever be able to find a Dr as caring and nurturing as she was. Sending lots of love to her family.