Irene Garcia-Sandoval

Weslaco, Texas - Irene Garcia-Sandoval, 84, passed away peacefully on August 30, 2025, at Windsor Nursing & Rehabilitation. Born June 28, 1941, in Weslaco to Saturnino H. Garcia and Ms. Guadalupe Sandoval.

Irene lived a life defined by her free spirit, determination, love of the arts, and devotion to family and community.

In 1971, Irene moved to Alaska with her then-husband, Edward Ramirez, and quickly embraced the Last Frontier as her adopted home.

She excelled as an Engineering Drafting Specialist, creating detailed technical drawings and designs that supported both energy and natural resource projects for Atlantic Richfield Corporation and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. Her precision, creativity, and professionalism earned her great respect in her field and contributed to the shaping of Alaska during the 70s and 80s, a period of great growth and change. She was also one of the first women to excel in her field, and took her feminist cues from Mary Tyler-Moore, whom she adored and watched religiously with her daughters. She was extremely proud of her professional achievements, and set the bar for other ambitious women and her daughters.

She was a founding member of Hispanic Alaskans and an active participant in the Alaska chapter of LULAC, championing civic engagement and cultural recognition for Latinos in Alaska.

Irene adored the Alaskan lifestyle-gardening like her father once did, marveling at the Northern Lights, and eagerly sharing her beloved state with visiting friends and family.

Her daughters would like you to know: Our mom was fearless. She fought for everything she believed in. Whether it was a political stance, a social justice issue, the betterment of her community, or us...she never hesitated to lead with innovative ideas and unshakable conviction. She was a beautiful woman with a luminous soul who kept herself active and engaged, inspiring everyone around her. We are the luckiest kids in the world to have had such a strong and loving mother in our lives. We will miss her forever.

Irene is preceded in death by her parents; the father of her children, Edward Ramirez; her sister, Maria Flores; and her nephew, James Moreno. She is survived by her daughters, Cynthia D. Ramirez and Laura M. Ramirez; her sisters, Paula Moreno, Esther Staudt, Teresa Rodriguez, and Susana De La Garza; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Salinas Funeral Home of Weslaco - Chapel of Faith, with a Rosary at 6:30 PM. Mrs. Garcia-Sandoval will be cremated at Val Verde Memorial Gardens in Donna, Texas.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Salinas Funeral Home of Weslaco.

To send flowers to the family in memory of Irene Garcia-Sandoval, please visit the family's flower store.