About Us
About Us
Thank you for visiting Calvary Funeral Home website. We have been serving the Irving community for almost 20 years, and now we add this website to our list of family-centered service. We think you'll find your visit helpful and hope you come back whenever we can be of service.
Lupe Garcia
President CEO / FDIC
Email: Info@CalvaryIrving.com
Email: Info@CalvaryIrving.com
Lupe Garcia was born in Robstown, Texas, a small town outside of Corpus Christi, Texas. He has 3 brothers and a fraternal twin sister. Lupe’s siblings were the only Hispanics at his elementary school. Since he only spoke Spanish at home, his English skills were very poor. He never spoke in school until he was in the 6th grade after a fellow classmate in the 6th grade called him names in class, assuming that Lupe was mute. Angered, Lupe spoke up right then and there and has not stopped talking since.
Lupe's means to make a change in his life was by music. He joined the school band and played the drums because this was the only school instrument that didn't require the student to purchase or rent. By at the end of the 8th grade he became so impressed by the saxophone that he taught himself to play it. That year, he auditioned, and much to the surprise of the band director, Lupe took first chair, going on to win ”All State" medals throughout his years in school. He obtained a full scholarship to the University of Houston playing not only in the marching band but was also in the jazz band.
Upon graduation, he took a job teaching band with arguably the worst band program in the state of Texas, of which none of the students could march or play music. Expressing his belief in them, Lupe created such pride in these students that they thought they could conquer the world. Lupe's enthusiasm, teaching abilities and musical talent grew that little band program of 50 students to a marching band of over 375 students and expanded the entire music program number to well over 1,500 students, placing first in all their division competitions and 1st or 2nd for the entire state.
After attending his grandmother's funeral and during all this growth and excitement with his music program, Lupe saw a need in the funeral business for a Hispanic funeral home. After some serious nudging from God, he decided to quit his job and go back to school and become a funeral director. His wife, Yolanda, thinking he had had a nervous breakdown, literally cried for 3 months as they made their decision to pack up everything and start a new life in Dallas.
In 1979, Lupe Garcia acquired a historic building in an area of Oak Cliff known today as Bishop Arts. The building, a landmark since 1920, served as one of Dallas’ oldest funeral homes. Lupe was inspired to continue their legacy of caring for those in their greatest time of need. He went on to further this mission by opening two additional funeral home locations under the Calvary Funeral Home brand in Pleasant Grove in 1984 and Irving, Texas in 1989. Together, this family of funeral homes has one mission and that is to be:
Large enough to serve... small enough to care.
Dallas has been very good for the Garcias. In his usual manner, Lupe threw himself into his new career and the Dallas community. He has served on the boards of too many organizations to mention. This almost became his full time job until his wife helped him understand his real job description. However, among his favorites have been The Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce, the Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, The U.S.Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, serving as the Chairman of the Board, and serving of the boards of the State Fair of Texas, and Children’s Medical Center.
What Makes Us Unique
We are proud to embrace traditional values, diversity and innovation in honoring the spirit and life of each person we serve. We offer a full selection of:
- Funeral and memorial services, ranging from traditional to uniquely innovative and personal
- Burial services and cremation options
- Celebrant Services
Letting go of a loved one is usually a very difficult process. In order to provide your family peace-of-mind, our funeral home offers complete care, so you can focus on comforting each other as you prepare to say goodbye to someone dear to you.
Although there are many decisions you may have to make, we assure you that we will guide you through the entire process every step of the way. We promise to help you:
- Design the most fitting memorial or funeral service to honor their memory and pay tribute to their life achievements and experiences.
- Select the most appropriate products, including a casket, burial vault, cremation urn, cemetery or mausoleum, to fit your budget and suit your needs and desires.
- Write a fitting obituary to honor your loved one’s life experiences and social connections.
- Assist in the publication of the obituary in the newspapers of your choice.
- Create a Book of Memories™, a beautiful, permanent online memorial, where you and your friends can build a legacy of memories by archiving treasured photos and memories.
- Welcome your family and friends to our funeral home for your planned services, including a viewing, visitation, funeral or memorial service.
- Make all arrangements with regard to the services whether they are held at your place of worship, our funeral home, cemetery, or alternate gathering place.
- Provide you with beautiful funeral print materials, including memorial folders, prayer cards and book marks. We also offer personalized note cards for you to acknowledge the emotional support you received from friends, co-workers and community members.
- Provide an elegant hearse and funeral cars, as well as arrange for escorts.
- Help in the selection and on-site arrangement of floral tributes.
- Provide access to grief education and support materials, and referrals to counseling services.
- Prepare all paperwork, including vital record statistics, permits, filing and obtaining death certificates, and assistance with life insurance, veteran’s benefits and Social Security claims.