Maria Erinea Lorraine Garcia, 85, of Laramie, passed November 2, 2024. She was born February 23, 1939, to her parents Amarante and Rosenda Sanchez in Chama, Colorado. Lorraine was a natural caregiver; she helped to raise her siblings while going to grade school in the country until 8th grade. She then went to Laramie High School, graduating in 1957. She moved to California and married there. From there she went on to cosmetology school and after graduating worked as a cosmetologist for many years until she retired at the age of 70. Lorraine had many hobbies including cooking, reading, painting, playing the guitar and even ballroom dancing. She toured the world with Tahiti being her favorite place. She enjoyed taking long weekends spending time in Rosarita Beach in their condo. In her spare time, she took up painting and became an excellent artist. She painted portraits of her nieces and nephews presenting them as gift to the parents. Her walls in her home were adorned with her beautiful paintings. Years after her husband’s passing, she was invited to a Ballroom dancing class where she met her life partner, Sik Tjan. She also took up guitar lessons. She and Sik toured until his passing. She had become his caregiver. She lived in California until moving back home to Laramie on September 29, 2024.
She was preceded in death by her parents Amarante and Rosenda, her husband Alfred Garcia, her brother Joe L. Sanchez, her special friend Sik Tjan, brother-in-law, Elden and her two nephews Jeffrey and Rodney and Bryan Sparks.
She is survived by her stepson Richard Tjan (Lisa), her brother Billy Sanchez (Katie), her sisters Charlene Sanchez (Virgil), Laura Almendares and Geraldine Sanchez (Larry), her aunt Elaine Quintana (Fritz), many cousins, and several nieces and nephews: Jessica, Valerie, Virgil, Andrea, Adam, Trisha, Tammy, Donna, Sherry, Allan, and Erika.
Rosary will take place 10:00 am. in the fireplace room with Funeral Liturgy at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 12th, 2024, at the St. Paul’s Newman Center in Laramie, Wyoming, interment to follow at Greenhill Cemetery.
Donations can be made to the Hospice of Laramie in Lorraine’s name.
