Maria Amalia (Garcia - Moreno) Rice |
| Posted 2016-08-16 by Judy Wight Branson |
| The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Sunday, July 17, 2016 5/30/23-7/7/16……A Life Well Lived. Maria Amalia Rice “heavened” on July 7 at the age of 93 at her home, The Peninsula Regent, in San Mateo, CA. Born in Malaga, Spain on May 30, 1923, Amalia met the love of her life, Erwin Rice, at a little sidewalk café in downtown Malaga. It was 1947 and his family was visiting Amalia’s best friend’s family. As a result of their brief encounter, the smitten Erwin’s Aunt Maziebelle and Uncle Fred Markham invited her friend to visit the United States as their guest, insisting she bring her friend Maria Amalia Garcia-Moreno. After much argument with her parents, Amalia was able to join Maria Luisa Rein on a two month visit to the US. Amalia returned to Spain engaged to Erwin. In December of 1948, under the soon to be cancelled War Bride Act, Amalia returned to Palos Verdes, CA to marry Erwin on December 26. Their union lasted 50 years until Erwin’s death in March of 1999. Amalia quickly assimilated into life in Palos Verdes, CA. She learned to speak and read English through cookbooks and church connections and raising her five children. In short time she was described as a beautiful, elegant, fabulous cook and brilliant hostess. To her children she was the quintessential Mom. Always game for a day at the beach, a friend’s house for a swim, play dates and sleepovers; the Rice house was the place of fun. In 1961, Amalia was invited to join the newly created Peninsula Committee Children’s Hospital volunteer group. Many lifelong relationships were built through this organization which she supported until her last days. In 1965, the Rices moved to Prescott, AZ so Erwin could partner is his cousin, Dick Markham’s, business. Moving from the Southern Californian beaches to the “Cowboy Capital of the World”, was a dramatic shift for the entire family. Amalia, a devout Catholic, sought connections in The Sacred Heart Community and her children’s activities. Once again, this beautiful and intriguing mother of five was sought after to engage in all things Prescott. Everyone wanted to be invited to Amalia’s for lunch, dinner, New Year’s Eve, etc. Amalia just knew how to entertain. She lived in Prescott for 38 years and built the strongest and most enduring friendships. In 2004, Amalia moved to The Peninsula Regent in San Mateo, CA to be closer to her children. TPR was a perfect match for Amalia. Not surprisingly, she made an immediate impact and forged, yet again, endearing and deep relationships with other residents. The family is especially appreciative of the tender loving care administered by TPR’s Assisted Living staff over the last two and half years. They were her family too. Amalia’s greatest source of pride was the family she built with Erwin. She is preceded in death by her eldest child, Miriam Amalia Rice (1949-2012), and survived by Victor Rice (Corrine), Maziebelle Rice (David Gutierrez), Jaime Rice (Paige Procter) and Marisa Comach. Amalia took great pride in her grandchildren Jeffrey Rice, Peter Patrakis, Spencer Johnson, Tyler and Michael Comach, Maria and Tess Gonzalez and her newest addition, great-granddaughter, Abril Gonzalez. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Amalia’s name to Peninsula Committee Children’s Hospital, www.pcch.net. Arrangements made by Neptune Society Information provided by survivors. |
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