Maria Cristina Eichler, 75, resident of Sunnyvale, CA, passed away at her home on October 20, 2017 surrounded by her family.

Maria was born on March 13, 1942 in Lima, Peru to Ursina Byrne and Manuel Garcia. She graduated from Notre Dame High School in Lima as a bilingual secretary. In 1964, at the age of 22, Maria immigrated to California. She met her husband, Lothar Eichler, in Mountain View and they were married in 1968.

Maria was a dedicated secretary of Juana Briones Elementary school in Palo Alto for almost thirty years. She loved her job, her colleagues and serving the Juana Briones families. In addition to her work, Maria loved traveling with her husband, laughing and dancing with her friends, and spending time with her family, in particular her five grandchildren who she loved with all her heart.

She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Lothar, her daughter Erika Eichler (son-in-law Tom Johnston, grandchildren Kurt and Christian), her son Oskar Eichler (daughter-in-law Leslie Eichler, grandchildren Mateo, Elena and Adrian), and numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. She will be missed by her family and friends more than she could have imagined. She is preceded in death by her mother Ursina, her father Manuel, and her brother Jorge Garcia.

A funeral mass will be held on Friday, November 10, 2017 at St. Simon Catholic Church, 1860 Grant Road, Los Altos, CA at 10:30 am. Reception immediately following the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, Maria's family asks that donations be made to the Maria Eichler Scholarship Fund that has been set up by the Juana Briones PTA. This fund will provide scholarships for school activities to those families that Maria cared for so much.

Donations can be mailed in to 4100 Orme Street, Palo Alto, CA 94306 (check made payable to Juana Briones PTA -- Maria Eichler Memorial Scholarship Fund) or online at: http://juanabriones.3dcartstores.com/Maria-Eichler-Memorial-Scholarship-Fund_p_94.html