Esmeralda Garcia

Esmeralda Cruz Garcia, 70, of Robinson, passed away on August 8, 2023 while at home surrounded by her loved ones after a courageous battle with leukemia. She ultimately triumphed over cancer with everlasting life in her savior Jesus Christ. She is Home!

Esmeralda was born November 30, 1952, in Laredo, Texas to Juan H. Cruz and Lilia Gonzalez, owners of Cruz’s Grocery on S. 11th St and Cleveland Ave in Waco. She graduated from Waco High School in 1971, a Tiger alumnus.

She began working for the City of Waco at the Waco Police Department on 11/16/1977 as a clerk in the Community Services Department. She is described as amazing, beautiful, sweet, strong, smart, nice, helpful and compassionate by her family, friends, co-workers and peers.

Throughout her 40-year career she worked in various positions and volunteered for many more…clerk, typist, dispatcher, ultimately earning her way to become the Senior Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Police. She held this position from 1988 until she retired on January 31, 2018, and had the honor of working under many Chiefs and Interim Chiefs. Although, if asked, she would say that she “worked for everyone (at the department)!”

Esmeralda was married twice in her life and took on the role of mother to her 4 children, Jason, Analicia, Margaret and Lee.

Esmeralda was an awesome mom, daughter, tia, niece, cousin, friend, Grandma, Mamaw and Gram-Cracker to so many, leaving a lasting legacy.

She was preceded in death by her father, Juan H. Cruz; and brother, Juan Miguel Cruz.

Survivors include mother, Lilia Gonzalez Cruz; sister, Diana Hernandez and brother-in law, Rodolfo (Rudy); brother, Leonardo Cruz and sister-in-law, Leslie Trzcinski; uncle, Roberto Gonzalez; children, Jason Cruz Vela and wife, Catie, Analicia Maria Ethridge, “Maggie” Diane Garcia and husband, Mario Rodriguez, Lee Marcos Garcia and wife, Ruth; nieces and nephews, Amanda Hernandez, Lia and “Pete” Rodolfo Hernandez Jr., Silvia Hernandez, “Tina” Hernandez, Rachel Hernandez, Maria Nicole Cruz, Juan Miguel Cruz Jr.; grandchildren, Jeremiah, Jacob, Catie Grace, Angelo, Damian, Marcelo, Mia, Nicho, Nicholas and Layla.

Pallbearers are Leonardo Cruz, Jason Vela, Lee Garcia, Miguel Cruz, Angelo Rodriguez, Jeremiah Vela, Jacob Vela and Nicholas Garcia.

Honorary Pallbearers are Marcus Garcia, Rudy Hernandez Sr., Mario Rodriguez, “Pete” Hernandez, Damian Ethridge, Marcelo Ethridge, Nicho Rodriguez and Jase Cruz.

The family would like to extend special thanks to Bluebonnet Healthcare and Hospice for all the care and compassion shown to our mom; Texas Oncology to Dr. Koshy and his nurses; Providence Hospital and all the nurses in the Infusion room. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the care given to our mom during the past two years.

The family invites everyone to a meal and fellowship at the MCC Conference Center, 4601 N19th St, Waco, Texas, following the burial.