Obituary of Perla Gilda Garcia

Perla Garcia, 78, of Miami Beach, Florida, and formerly of New Jersey, passed peacefully into Heaven on May 12, 2020. Perla was a proud Cuban and a woman of faith. On April 13, 1942, Perla was born in Havana, Cuba, to Jose Menendez and Manuela (Cuca) Menendez. She grew up in the town of Jovellanos, Cuba. In 1962 Perla married the love of her life, Jorge Garcia, and they began their 57-year love story. When Jorge met Perla, he said that he had met "the apple of my eye, the love of my life, God's creation, especially for me." They were inseparable until his passing in October 2019. Perla graduated from Escuela Normal in Cuba and received her degree in teaching. After marrying Jorge at the age of 19 and becoming parents, Perla and Jorge left their beloved homeland of Cuba in 1970 to start a new life of freedom. After much sacrifice, the Garcia's were free of communism and came to the United States. They settled their family in Essex County, New Jersey. Perla worked at H.R. Reissman Pharmaceutical in Orange, NJ, for several years, before finally living her dream as owner/operator of Perla's Confectionary in Newark, New Jersey, where she worked until she and Jorge retired to Miami Beach in 2004. Stories of Perla and Jorge's life and times in Cuba, their journey to freedom, and their new life in the United States were documented in a book by Jorge, accessible at http://www.garciafamilystory.com The essential things in life for Perla were the love that she shared with Jorge and being a mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt. These were truly the highlights of her life. Perla enjoyed sewing and playing the piano and was an active member of her church, Friendship Presbyterian Church, in Hialeah, Florida. After the passing of her husband Jorge, Perla found comfort in the quote "goodbyes are not forever, goodbyes are not the end, they simply mean I'll miss you, until we meet again." Perla was predeceased by her parents Jose and Manuela (Cuca), husband Jorge, and infant daughter Annette. She leaves behind her son George, daughter-in-law Lisa, grandchildren Alexa and George III, sister Magali (Yuri), niece Maggie (Oscar), and great-niece and nephew Gaby and Oscar. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the American Heart Association at www.heart.org. Due to current events, services will be scheduled at a later date.