Elisa Noemi (Garcia) Garcia

“I can’t think of any better representation of beauty than someone who is unafraid to be herself.” – Emma Stone

So many people have said, “Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder.” However, it is only the special ones who already know they are beautiful inside and out—they don’t need or rely on people telling them. These unique individuals are so rare and wonderful. They usually are not afraid to let others know what is on their beautiful mind because they don’t care about what others think. They don’t live in fear of being judged which in itself creates a beautiful, carefree outlook on life. One such beautiful woman was Elisa Noemi Garcia. Her beautiful spirit and her wonderous outlook on life touched the lives of her family, friends, and those within her community.

On a chilly, cloudy Friday, December 15, 2000, a beautiful baby girl was born to her parents, Robert and Noemi in Dallas, Texas. Right from the start, Elisa had her parents wrapped around her small, little finger. She brightened up her parents’ lives with her delightful peals of laughter and beautiful smile. Elisa’s eyes sparkled with joy as well as mischief. She enjoyed Care Bears, especially Grumpy Care Bear, and watching SpongeBob SquarePants. Even from a young age, Elisa was as smart as a whip, and with each year, she proved it. Elisa was known for being outspoken, outgoing, and unafraid. Her siblings looked up to their older sister, and she always looked out after them, especial her little brother, Abel. She referred Abel as “her baby.” As Elisa grew up, she had many passions in life. She was a gifted softball player in her high school varsity softball team. She also loved to do various art projects in various mediums such as paint and watercolors. Just as her paintings were exquisite, Elisa’s drawings were also beautiful and excellent. Like many young girls, she was a huge fan of One Direction and went to see them perform at the American Airlines Center as her first concert. Elisa attended South Grand Prairie High School then transferred to Crosswinds Accelerated High School where she graduated in 2019. After graduating, she began to take classes to become a licensed phlebotomist who could draw blood for patients or blood donors. It was Elisa’s plan to become a phlebotomist and then begin nursing school. She wanted to pursue a career in which she could help people, especially as she began to become sick. Elisa’s caring heart reached out to many throughout her life, including the love of her life, Angel Vergara. Angel and Elisa were inseparable and so very much in love. Within their 8 months of dating, they experienced a love deeper and truer than most people experience in a lifetime. They did virtually everything together. They traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana; Austin, Texas; and Downtown Dallas where they spent the day exploring and playing. Angel even let Elisa give him one of her delectable pedicures (she got white polish while he opted for red). Elisa and Angel planned to begin classes to take their first communion together. She wanted their relationship to be Christ-centered which made the relationship even more beautiful and meaningful to both of them. When Elisa’s cancer came back from remission, Angel was there for her every step of the way. He helped her mother care for her as she battled against her cancer. He cheered her on, and when times got tough, he was the shoulder she cried on and supported her with. Their hearts were woven together by love, fun, laughter, and the sweetest of memories. In Elisa’s 19 years of life, Angel and so many others were touched by her beautiful heart and unique personality.

Although Elisa’s life was far too short for such an adventurous spirit, she did have a very full life. Elisa had many special trips and a collection of passions that made her life extraordinary and exciting. Along with her family, Elisa took several road trips across North America. She went with her family to Walt Disneyland in California where they had a blast! Of course, since they were in California, they spent some time at the beach as well, at Elisa’s insistence. Her family also took a trip to Mexico to visit extended family. While in Mexico, she stayed in San Luis Potosi in the mountains. She spent much of her time in San Luis Potosi outdoors, soaking in the beauty and the nature around her. Elisa loved spending time outside in the sunshine, though her smile and twinkling eyes always outshone the brightest of days. She enjoyed cookouts with her family and going “jeeping.” Among her passions, Elisa also enjoyed different types of food. Her favorite foods included fresh fruits like strawberries and watermelons, but she also enjoyed steaks, especially rib-eyes. She liked various types of chips. Spicy chips and Fritos were her favorites. Not only did Elisa like to eat different foods, but she also liked to cook different foods. Cooking was a passion for Elisa, and she even made a small business out of her love of cooking. She would fix delicious foods like Tex-Mex, nachos, Cinnamon buns, and pastas, and then take pictures of her creations. These pictures would be posted on to Instagram where people would order whatever she was cooking or baking. Her dishes were delicious and tantalizing, people always wanted more of her cooking. Another passion of Elisa was animals. She loved Angel’s large Husky named Peep and her cat named Chiflada. She nicknamed her little cat “Kitty” and loved getting warm snuggles from her furry friend. Elisa also enjoyed riding horses whenever she could. While her life was full of passions and joys, Elisa’s greatest passion in life was her family. She loved spending time with her family, talking and laughing about everything and anything. One thing she loved to do with her family was cheer on the Dallas Cowboys. Her love of the Dallas Cowboys was cemented by her family’s love and admiration for the Cowboys. To her, watching the Cowboys was almost like a family tradition. Family meant everything to Elisa, and she loved each member of her family so very much in her unique, special way.

Though she only had 19 years of life, Elisa won the game of life. She traveled to many different places. She conquered challenges such as graduating from high school while battling cancer. She found true love in her own personal, guardian “angel.” She had a wonderful, supportive family who loved her so much. But more importantly, Elisa was her genuine self each and every day. Like E.E. Cummings stated, “It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” Unlike so many teenagers, Elisa never hid behind a mask or put up a front. She never hid her unique and beautiful mind, but instead let her thoughts and dreams shine in the light. Elisa always saw the world in a different perspective. Her insight was just as beautiful and as unique as the Medusa tattoo on her hand. Occasionally her thoughts or comments would seem harsh at times, but just like Medusa, she was legendary and a force to be reckoned with. Everything she said or did was done with an undertone of love and care. Elisa loved her family and friends so much with all of her heart. Elisa won at life and as football player Fran Tarkenton stated, “Winning means being unafraid to lose.” Elisa battled her cancer fiercely and remained brave and strong throughout the last months of her life. To the sorrow of her family and friends, Elisa Noemi Garcia passed away on Saturday, December 28, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas just 13 days after her 19th birthday. Throughout life, Elisa had never shown fear, and her battle with cancer was no different. As always, she was in control of her life and her destiny. Elisa’s spirit and strength will always be remembered by her family and friends. Her example motivates so many to be unique and unafraid of being themselves. So many see life for the beauty it is because of Elisa’s beautiful and wonderful spirit.

Elisa Garcia is survived by her parents, Robert Garcia and Noemi Borja and their spouses Celena Garcia and Tony Borja; her brothers, Robert Garcia, III, Isaiah Garcia, Abel Garcia, Aaron Garcia, and Mason Borja; grandparents, Elvia and Pioquinto Coronado; grandmother, Patricia Garcia; and by the love her life, her fiancé, Angel Vergara. She joins in heaven her grandfather, Robert Garcia, Sr., and her great-grandmother and name sake, Elisa Guerra.