- Date Of Birth: July 2, 1939
- Date Of Death: April 25, 2022
- State: New Mexico
Marie “Celina” Garcia Toivanen passed away on April 25, 2022.
She was born in the small village of San Jose, New Mexico on July 2, 1939 to Frutoso and Magdalena (Gallegos) Garcia. Throughout childhood, Marie wanted to be a teacher. She would gather the kids in San Jose and teach them lessons in various subjects. Some of her peers remember this and have thanked her for those lessons.
Marie attended elementary school in San Jose and graduated from Las Vegas Robertson High School. She received her BA and MA degrees from New Mexico Highlands University. She did post-graduate work at UNM and NMSU. After graduating from Highlands, she moved to Grants, New Mexico to commence a teaching career that lasted 48 years. She taught at Sierra Vista, Mesa View, St. Teresa of Avila and Mt Taylor Schools. Her favorite subject to teach was reading. She was an excellent reading teacher, and she loved children. Many former students have fond memories of Ms. Toivanen. Marie was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma (Psi Chapter), life member of the National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, International Reading Association, Grants Cibola County Association of Educational Retirees, and New Mexico Retired Teachers Assoc. Marie received the St. Jerome medal for Outstanding Catholic School Teacher in 2002. She was named to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers by one of her former students. She was a Ham Radio Operator and was a member of the Upper Rio FM Society.
