Mary Flores

Maria (Rosales) Flores passed away at the age of 89 on Sunday, December 18, 2016 in Edinburg, TX. Maria "Mary" is preceded in death by her parents, Martin Rosales, Sr. and Maria Pioquinta, brothers Manuel and Ramon Escobedo, Rafael and Martin Rosales, Jr., and sisters Hilda Longoria, Blanca Ontiveros and Teodora Rosales. Mary is survived by her two daughters: Isabelle (Jerry) Champion of Edinburg, TX and Janie Flores of Harlingen, TX. Grandchildren (4): Jimmie Robert (Analissa) Champion II of Austin, TX, Adrienne Isabelle Champion of Orlando, FL, Aissia Flores and Ruben Romo, Jr. of Harlingen, TX. Great-grandchildren: Adrielle Ezra and Juliette Rose Champion of Austin, TX and Chrissiana Marie Villarreal and Ruben Romo III of Harlingen, TX.
Mary was born on Wednesday, December 29, 1926 in Gonzales, TX. to Martin and Maria Rosales, Sr. Up until she was a teenager, Mary enjoyed spending time with, and eventually assisting, her father run his grocery store gas station. While working there, she learned a lot about the importance of cultivating business relationships and maintaining every day responsibilities. This knowledge would later come in handy for when she met and married the love of her life, Felix Flores, in 1955. Shortly after marriage, Mary and Felix moved to Indio, CA, Chicago, IL, Houston, TX, and finally decided to settle in Harlingen, TX where they started a family. Mary worked several positions in her lifetime but the most rewarding was being a paraprofessional with the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District, and as a personal seamstress. It was in these jobs that she was able to use her God-given talents and what she learned in her informal education from her parents. Mary was a devout Catholic and a member of Queen of Peace Catholic Church since its beginning in Harlingen, TX; in 2015 she and Felix moved to Edinburg, TX and became members of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church – where Mary joined the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court Mother of Divine Grace #2717.
After her mother passed away in the late 1970s, Mary took on the role of caregiver to her father until he passed away at the end of 1983. This was very important because this life event prepared her to care for her husband, who had just been diagnosed with glaucoma; she was the sole caregiver to Felix for over 30 years.
Mary had the biggest heart and always spoke her peace. She was loved unconditionally by her family, especially by her grandchildren, and even more-so by her great-grandchildren. Mary took pride in utilizing her talents singing and playing the piano, sewing, quilting and crocheting.
We know you’re with Grandpa now and eagerly waiting for us to see the beautiful heavens with our Lord…we’ll see you both soon, si Dios quiere.
Visitation will be held today, Thursday, December 22, 2016 from 5-9 p.m., with a Rosary to be prayed at 7 p.m. in the Chapel of Peace at Ceballos-Diaz Funeral Home, 322 East Kuhn Street in Edinburg, TX.
Catholic Mass will be celebrated on Friday, December 23, 2016, at 9:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 501 East Kuhn Street in Edinburg, TX. Burial will follow at the Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery, 2520 South Inspiration Road in Mission, TX.
Pallbearers will be Jimmie R. Champion II, Ruben Romo, Jr., Jerry Champion, Raul Santiago, Ruben DeLeon and Greg Kerr. Funeral services have been entrusted to Ceballos-Funeral Home in Edinburg, TX. Sign the guestbook at www.themonitor.com/obituaries.

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