It is with great sorrow that we share the news that Igdalia “Dally” (López) García, 92, of New Haven died peacefully at home with her loving family by her side.
She was the beloved wife of the late Herman García, Sr. Igdalia was born in Aibonito, Puerto Rico on January 27, 1930, a daughter of the late Abraham López, Sr. and the late Ana Maria Cancel.
She had resided in Brooklyn, NY for eighteen years before moving to New Haven in 1973. Igdalia was fondly referred to as “Mama Dolly” by many, always extending a warm motherly welcome to all who came to her home. She was a food service aide at Yale-New Haven Hospital for fifteen years, retiring in 1997.
Igdalia was a strong Latina woman with a great sense of humor who didn’t let grass grow under her feet. She was the matriarch of the García family, and everyone else around her. For over forty years her spiritual lift was nurtured by the pastors and parishioners of the Star of Jacob Christian Church (Iglesia Cristiana Estrella de Jacob) and was a pillar in her community, actively involved for many years in politics, and important matters in the Hill section of New Haven.
At the age of nineteen she left the Island, and moved to Brooklyn, where she met her husband Herman. When they moved to Connecticut, they became the dynamic duo, expanding the base of the Latino political community. Igdalia’s magnetic personality and charismatic nature left a lasting impression on each person who was blessed to meet her. She was a woman before her time, when it was not fashionable for a woman who didn’t dominate the English language to stand before hundreds, and second or support some Democratic politician’s nomination.
Dally García was co-chair of the New Haven Democratic Town Committe, 4th Ward when Vinnie Mauro, Sr. was Chairman. Because they were her friends, Igdalia took pictures with President Jimmy Carter, Governor Ella T. Grasso, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Judge Jack Keyes, Senator Martin Looney, and Mayors Frank Logue, Biagio DiLieto, John Daniels, John DeStefano and Tony Harp.
She worked as a senior aide at the Atwater Senior Center where she traveled to many countries such as: Italy, Ireland, England, Scotland, Whales, France, Holland, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Greece, Turkey, Israel and Cuba. She also traveled extensively throughout the Unted States, and of course to her beautiful homeland, the Island of Puerto Rico. Dally was a Justice of the Peace; many couples were joined hands with her ceremony, and she was on the City of New Haven Fair Rent Commission where she fought for the least fortunate. She will be truly missed.
“To live in the lives of those whom you have left behind is not to die.”
Igdalia is survived by three daughters, Ana P. Pérez and Rebecca García of New Haven and Rosalie (Luís) Rivas Vázquez of Branford, one son, Herman (Rebecca) García, Jr. of Wichita, KS, five sisters, Eva “Concha” (Juan) Rivera, Aida Martínez and Haydee López Rivera of New Haven, Emadalis “Balica” (Solomon) Rivera of Kissimmee, FL and Elizabeth (José) Rivera of Deltona, FL, two brothers, Abraham (Marta) López of New Haven and Amilcar (Brunilda) López of Bayamón, PR, ten grandchildren, thirty great-grandchildren, fifteen great-great-grandchildren, and many loving nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, cousins and friends. She was predeceased by a sister, Natividad López-Torres.
Igdalia’s family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday, December 21st from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Washington Memorial Funeral Home, 4 Washington Ave., North Haven. A funeral service will take place at the funeral home on Thursday, December 22nd at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, New Haven. Family and friends can send flowers and/or light a candle as a loving gesture for Igdalia. Please leave a sympathy message in the guestbook on this memorial page for Igdalia to show support. www.washingtonmemorialfh.com