'Very loving, kind people': Uvalde buries teacher killed at school, husband who died days later

Texas News

'Very loving, kind people': Uvalde buries teacher killed at school, husband who died days later

KUT 90.5 | By Sergio Mart铆nez-Beltr谩n | The Texas Newsroom

Published June 2, 2022 at 8:20 AM CDT

A memorial outside of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde continues to grow, with residents and visitors bringing flowers in honor of the 21 people killed during last week's shooting.

Wednesday鈥檚 burial came a day after funerals for 10-year-olds Amerie Jo Garza and Maite Yuleana Rodriguez were held. More visitations and funerals for the 21 victims will continue throughout the next weeks.

Hundreds of mourners gathered inside of Uvalde鈥檚 Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Wednesday to say one last goodbye to Irma and Joe Garcia.

The pair met in high school, fell in love and got married in 1997.

Irma was 49 and a teacher at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Joe, 50, was a leader at H-E-B.

Last week, Irma was one of two adults and 19 children killed in the shooting at Robb Elementary. Joe of a heart attack.

Wednesday鈥檚 funeral was held privately and was attended by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.

鈥淚鈥檓 here as an educator and as a dad. I鈥檓 with the teachers, with the families,鈥� Cardona told reporters after the funeral in Spanish. 鈥淚鈥檓 here to be there with them and support them.鈥�

Delia Mart铆nez described the couple as 鈥渧ery loving people.鈥� She worked for Joe at H-E-B and attended the Garcia鈥檚 visitation Tuesday night.

They were 鈥渁lways in church and [with] family 鈥nd friends,鈥� Mart铆nez told The Texas Newsroom.

After the funeral service, men carried two caskets out of the church and transported the bodies to a nearby cemetery.

Juan Castillon attended the couple鈥檚 burial and said he鈥檚 known them for years. Castillon went to Robb Elementary, and Joe was in the same high school class as his brother. Irma studied with Castillon鈥檚 sister.

He described them as 鈥渧ery loving, kind people 鈥� real fun people to be around.鈥�

Castillon and Joe were also coworkers. He said he鈥檒l remember the times they partied together at H-E-B鈥檚 Christmas party and other events.

Irma and Joe are survived by their two daughters and two sons.

鈥淚 just hope everybody stays strong and everybody comes together and just be there for one another, especially for the kids,鈥� Castillon said.

He added he hopes Robb Elementary becomes a memorial for all who died.

鈥淭hey should tear down Robb,鈥� Castillon said. 鈥淭hey should have a site, a memorial for all of them, for all the ones that were killed in this tragic event.鈥�

Wednesday鈥檚 service for the Garcias came a day after funerals for 10-year-olds Amerie Jo Garza and Maite Yuleana Rodriguez were held.

More visitations and funerals for the remaining victims will continue throughout the next weeks.