Raquel Fuentes Garcia passed away peacefully on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, surrounded by family in Pacifica.
Raquel’s greatest loves were her family and cooking. Her recipes and dishes were the highlight of many families for multiple generations who dined at the Acapulco restaurant in Rockaway Beach. Her chalupas, mole poblano and refried beans were legendary.
Raquel was born in Puebla, Mexico, on July 24, 1926, to Marciano and Inez Fuentes. In Mexico, she worked as a nurse assistant before marrying Marcelino Garcia. Both Raquel and Marcelino Garcia immigrated to the United States and started a restaurant in San Francisco. Then, in 1962, they opened a second restaurant in Pacifica.
After Raquel retired from the day-to-day operations of the Acapulco restaurant, she joined Unidad Latina de Pacifica and volunteered her time in the kitchen for nine years at Good Shepherd School. The Good Shepherd School students always looked forward to her creations of bean and cheese burritos, quesadillas and taco salads.
Raquel was preceded in death by her husband, Marcelino, in 1973. She is survived by her five children, Dr. Maria de Los Angeles Garcia, Sylvia Garcia-Lechelt (Russell), Dr. Carlos Garcia (Ana), Minerva Garcia and Patricia Gammage; by grandchildren Roberto Ruvalcaba (Susana), Raul Ruvalcaba (Karla), Perla Manchinsky (Pavel), Lorenzo Garcia, Raphael Garcia, Gabriela Garcia, Karla Diaz, Patricia Garcia-Lechelt, Mireya Gammage and Carlos Gammage; and five great-grandchildren Christian, Paulina, Diana, Arlette Ruvalcaba and Marcela Gammage.
The Garcia Family would like to thank all the customers who frequented the Acapulco restaurant and enjoyed Raquel’s recipes and cooking. Thank you!
Donations in honor of Raquel Garcia may be made to Hospice Services of Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, 4131 Geary Blvd., fourth floor, San Francisco, CA 94118.
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