Austin Woman Honored As H-E-B's Longest-Serving Employee

Austin TX

22 December, 2021

10:32 AM

Description

AUSTIN, TX — H-E-B will honor an Austin woman for her 56 years of service at the Texas-based grocery chain on Wednesday — the longest an employee has ever served for the company. Ofelia Garcia, 84, is a longtime Oak Hill resident who has worked most of her career at the Oak Hill H-E-B, 7901 U.S. 290. Austin City Councilmember Paige Ellis will present the 84-year-old with a city proclamation Wednesday morning declaring Dec. 22, 2021 at Ofelia Garcia Day. "We can never do enough to honor the sustaining contributions of our frontline retail employees," said Ellis. "The quality of life in our community would not be as strong and vibrant without heroes like 'Ophie' Garcia and her colleagues." The 84-year-old was previously honored back in October when the Oak Hill store reopened in southwest Austin with a new 90,000-square foot look. (media handout courtesy of H-E-B)Garcia, or "Ophie" as she's known by many, joined H-E-B in 1965 at the Harlingen store and in 1988, she moved to the cosmetics department at the former Oak Hill store. She has lived in the Oak Hill area for 32 years. During her time with the grocery chain, Garcia became a notable figure in the community for her dependability and advice to customers and co-workers. Officials said Garcia rarely called in sick and insisted on working during weather emergencies and during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Garcia retired from H-E-B in August 2021. Garcia is also a longtime member of Saint Catherine's Catholic Church. She has four children, 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. The 84-year-old was previously honored back in October when the Oak Hill store reopened in southwest Austin with a new 90,000-square foot look.