Victoria Ward

Victoria Garcia Ward
March 21, 1932 – June 16, 2026

Victoria Garcia Ward, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, wife and friend passed away peacefully on June 16, 2026, at the age of 94.

Victoria was born on March 21, 1932, in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, to Carmen Jorge and Eusebio Garcia Granados. She was raised alongside her sister, Anna Maria Garcia Jorge, her brother, Jose Garcia Jorge and many beloved cousins. She remained deeply connected to her Spanish heritage throughout her life and carried its traditions wherever she went.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Donald Lee Ward, and her dear younger brother, Jose Garcia Jorge.

Victoria’s greatest joy was her family. She is survived by her beloved sister, Ana Maria Garcia Jorge and her four children: Victoria Maria Ward and her husband, Mark Connolly, and their children, Alex, Isabel, and Nico; Daniel Lee Ward and his wife, Teresa Themides, and their daughter, Sylvia; Carmen Rose Ward and her wife, Joa March; and Michael Pablo Ward and his wife, Neysa Pranger, and their daughter, Lucille.

One of the defining acts of Victoria’s life was her remarkable courage as a young woman to leave Spain. Secretly saving money over time, she purchased passage on a boat bound for Venezuela. With little more than determination and faith in herself, she boarded the ship alone and began the journey that led to her meeting her husband, Donald Lee Ward, a geologist working in Venezuela. Her willingness to face the unknown in pursuit of a brighter future became a hallmark of the resilience and strength that defined her character.

To her family and friends, Victoria will be remembered most for the love she expressed through her extraordinary Spanish cooking. Her kitchen was a place of warmth and togetherness. The meals she prepared brought comfort, joy, and lasting memories to generations of family members and countless friends. Sharing food was her way of sharing love, and she did so abundantly.

Her legacy lives on in the traditions she passed down, the empathy she taught, and the many people who were fortunate enough to know her. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered with love.

Her ashes will be returned to her homeland, Tenerife.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the Alachua County Humane Society.