Ana Flores

Ana Flores passed away peacefully on March 2, 2022 in her home in Reseda, California. She was surrounded by her beloved children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ana Flores was born April 1, 1926 in Acámbaro, Guanajuato, Mexico. She was the fourth child born to Eleuterio Martínez Padilla and Refugio Durán Hernandez. Ana had 2 brothers and 5 sisters. Anita, as everyone called her, was very independent and a rebel. In order to help the family financially, Anita began working at the age of thirteen at a medical laboratory by lying about her age. She learned how to draw blood and give medical injections. In her twenties, Anita moved to Mexico City with her mother and sisters. She attended secretarial school and before she completed her training, she began working at ICA Constructora, the largest Latin American Construction Company. In 1953, She married José Flores Gaona against her mother’s wishes. Due to this conflict, Jose brought Anita to the United States to begin their life together. Ana became the guiding light and soul of her family. She taught her children to be respectful, responsible, non-judgemental, to fight for what is right, to fend for themselves and not depend on others. She gave them the confidence to face life, to stay grounded, and above all, to love God. A year after, when Ricardo was born, her mother’s disapproval transformed into love and support for her daughter and son-in law. Refugio visited Anita and José in the United States every year. In fact, on New Year's Day, 1962, Refugio and her sister Josefina came to their aid when they were involved in a devastating automobile accident. Mamá Cuca took over for her daughter as she recovered. MamaAna, as she is lovingly called by her grandchildren, loved her family in Mexico and the United States. She made sure her whole family was connected across the miles. From 1965 to 1972 the family lived in Mexico City and the state of Mexico. Her sisters, Josefina, Gloria, Angela, Rosa and Dolores who never married became second mothers to their nieces and nephews. They supported their sister, especially when she helped in the family’s restaurant as well as run the household. In conversations, MamaAna always recalled stories of her life in Mexico, Swimming and playing in Agua Caliente’s thermal rivers while her mother washed and dried their laundry. Another childhood memory was visiting their grandfather in the hills of Acámbaro and eating delicious tacos made with wild cactus and salsa roasted outdoors. The most important story was meeting her husband while he recovered from a horrible accident. These and many more anecdotes were told and retold through the years. These family stories taught her children to appreciate hard work, to never give up and the importance of love for family. Mama Ana lived a life based in faith. Every morning she opened her Bible and prayed for her family and friends. Up to two weeks before her death, she lived a fulfilled and healthy life. She enjoyed a daily game of dominos, visiting her sisters and brother in Mexico every year, and loved traveling with her children. She loved nature, good food, architecture and art. When she walked under the Eiffel Tower in Paris she said, “Who would think that a person born in the small town of Acambaro would be here in this beautiful place!” In her last years when she began to slow down, she especially loved meeting her great-grandchildren. Her eyes would sparkle as she played with them. Her family was her masterpiece of love. Anita is survived by her sisters, Ángela and Dolores, her five children and their spouses, Ricardo and Lupita, Anarosa and Fernando, Francisco Javier and Analín, Miguel Ángel and Mayra, and Sylvia and Rogelio, Anita had fourteen grandchildren, Ricardo, Omar, Ixchel, Fernando, Michael, Christina, Nathalie, Daniel, Christian, Kelly, Andres, Diane, Anette and Anthony, and seven great-grandchildren with two more on the way. Ana Flores was pure love and humility. She was 95 years-old, a month short of 96 when she took a hold of God’s hand to join her beloved family in heaven. She will always be the guiding light of her family.