Friends, family remember 23-year-old Marine at Naples funeral

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Lance Corporal Ivan Garcia was laid to rest one month after dying from carbon monoxide poisoning, along with two other Marines. He was 23.

Tuesday’s funeral began at 9 a.m. at the Naples Funeral Home.

Family and friends gathered to say their final goodbyes during Garcia’s funeral ceremony. His cousins and other relatives spoke at the podium, and one thing they all agreed on was that he was an example of what love is.

Garcia is a Naples native who attended Lely High School while growing up. During his time in the military, Garcia received several awards.

Garcia was honored with a motorcade procession on Monday led by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.

WINK News spoke to Gianna Hidalgo, Garcia’s cousin, who said Garcia made a positive impact on those who knew him.

“He’s the example of what love is,” said Hidalgo. “He was raised by his grandma. His mom was not in this country while he was raised, and then now she’s actually back here. He even joined the military, thinking I wanna bring my mom to this country, and it’s something that really hurts us. Now she’s here. She was able to make it to the funeral. I know he’s watching from above, and he’s smiling she’s here now.”

The motorcade left Southwest Florida International Airport Monday night and travelled from Lee County to the Naples Funeral Home on Davis Boulevard.

WINK News also spoke with Garcia’s aunt, Rosely Garcia, about her nephew.

“This is a huge loss, she said. But I know that he’s okay where he is now because he fought for us, and he fought for this nation,” said Rosely in Spanish. “He was a good son, a good cousin, a good nephew, and he was like a son to me because I saw him grow up.”

“You would ask Ivan, hey, take me here, and he was the first one to get up and do anything for his neighbor, for his friend, and for the family,” said Hidalgo. “We’re such a very big family, and I think that is really how we’re going to remember him: for his love, for his caring. He’d give you a hug and you’d feel it in your heart. He’d hug you so hard, every single time. He had so much love.”

Garcia’s ceremony and burial were both held on Tuesday, with the burial taking place at 1 p.m.

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