Resolution
WHEREAS, Haydee Garcia has gone to her eternal reward; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of her passing by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Alderman Roberto Maldonado; and
WHEREAS, Haydee Garcia played a prominent role in the history and development of the Puerto Rican community in Chicago and built a legacy of community activism, cultural pride, love of family and a deep spiritual connection that inspired all who knew her; and
WHEREAS, Haydee Garcia was born in Dorado, Puerto Rico on April 25, 1929 and raised in Quebrada Arenas, Vega Baja by her mother, Paulita Rolon and her step-father Ignacio Rosario; and
WHEREAS, Haydee Garcia was the loving wife of Benjamin Garcia for 62 years and together they had three daughters, Nitza Torres-Feliciano, Betsy Reyes, and Lourdes Garcia, four grandchildren, Yesenia Feliciano, Wilfredo Feliciano, David Reyes, and Samantha Reyes, and three great grandchildren, Julian Omar Davila, Xavier Torres, and Jovany Feliciano; and
WHEREAS, not only did Haydee Garcia support her husband in his civic involvement, co-founding El Club Vegabajeno with him, but she was also involved in numerous community organizations including the Spanish Action Committee of Chicago (SACC), the Spanish American Business Association [SABA), the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce, the Puerto Rican Parade Committee and the Club de Leonas; and
WHEREAS, Haydee Garcia worked hard to bring people together and find ways to better their communities and in recognition of her extraordinary community leadership, Haydee Garcia received many awards and recognitions over the years including recognition from the Puerto Rican Parade Committee as well as Puerto Rican Business Woman ofthe Year; and
WHEREAS, Haydee Garcia helped fulfill her passion for helping others while working at the Department of Public Aid. She was later employed by La Criolla, where she worked in various positions including packaging supervisor; and
WHEREAS, Haydee Garcia eventually found a job closer to her home in Humboldt Park as an executive secretary to the prominent business owner Marcelino Diaz in his real estate and property management company. While working at the company she attended real estate classes and became one of the very first Latina women at the company to obtain a real estate license; and
WHEREAS, Haydee Garcia later opened her own business named after her oldest granddaughter, "Yesenia's Bridal" located at 1456 N. Milwaukee Avenue and maintained a successful business until her retirement in 1995; and
WHEREAS, Haydee Garcia was also a talented seamstress and her clients included the former Mayor of San Juan, but she also took great pride and joy sewing for her beautiful daughters; and
WHEREAS, Haydee Garcia's lifelong compassion, dedication, and vision serve as an example to all and laid a foundation for the next generation of leaders; and
WHEREAS, A woman of elegance, grace and charm, Haydee Garcia will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by her many relatives, friends and admirers; and
WHEREAS, To her beloved family, Haydee Garcia imparts a legacy of faithfulness, service and love; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members ofthe Chicago City Council, assembled this seventeenth day of January, 2018, do hereby commemorate Haydee Garcia for her life of faith, service, and love and do hereby express our condolences to her family; and
Alderman Roberto Maldonado
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Haydee Garcia.
