Flora Velarde Valdes Obituary (1927 - 2023)

Flora Velarde Valdes was born to Santiago and Maria Velarde on October 26, 1927 in Santa Rosalia, B.C. Mexico. She was the eldest sister. Her siblings' names are Albino, Francisco, Marcelina, Raul and Alfredo. Early in her life, the family moved to El Rosario. She enjoyed singing and sewing as a young woman. Later, the family moved to Mazatlan and settled in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico. She has many family members there and in other parts of Mexico including Hermosillo, Ciudad Obregon, Mexico City, Tijuana. And she has many fond memories of visiting Miramar, her favorite beach in Guaymas. When she was 20 years old, she was hired to care for the children of a Navy Admiral. They moved to Newport, Rhode Island, USA. There she visited many places on the East Coast. In 1950, her job was complete and she moved back to Guaymas. Soon after, a friend asked her to accompany her to Mexicali, BC, Mexico. And that was where she met her future husband, Hector Bravo Valdes. They married in 1953, and had 5 children, Gloria, Hector, Maria, J. Raul and Angelica. The family emigrated to El Centro, CA US in 1968. Hector, a union steel worker and Flora, a seamstress, bought a house on Aurora Drive for $14,000. They worked hard to ensure their children got an education and all of them received a higher education degree. A source of pride for Flora. Despite her 2nd grade education, she learned English and studied so that she could take the Citizenship test in English. Her sewing talents allowed her to make beautiful custom clothes and wedding dresses. She was commissioned to make the uniforms for the Great Central Union Spartan band in the 70's. Flora was best known for her excellent cooking skills. Her tortillas and tamales were simply the best! She shared them with family and friends at Christmas. And at New Year's, she always had a hot pot of menudo ready for anyone that came to visit! Flora taught her children the value of hard work and respect for others. Most of all, she welcomed all with no judgment and open arms. When you visited Flora, you felt loved. At 95, she had lived a life well-lived. Flora was preceded in death by her parents, son Hector Valdes and grandson Hector Valdes II. Flora is survived by her sister, Marcelina Ojeda, brother Raul Velarde, children Gloria Valdes, Maria Horton (Robert), J. Raul Valdes (Rose), Angelica Bernal (David), 23 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, a great-great grandchild and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.