Martina Maldonado Florez

Our loving mother passed away at 102 years old. She was the true matriarch of our family. She loved every one of us with open arms and an open heart. She was always quick with a joke, filling the house with laughter and love, and the unmistakable smell of the best tamales you could ever have.

Martina built a legacy that will live on for generations: children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren- all carrying a piece of her strength, love, and spirit.

She will be deeply missed but never forgotten. Her love lives on in all of us.

Martina loved sewing, making puzzles, working in her yard, and especially sitting on her front porch. She was a seamstress for 35 years at Cox’s Department Store in Waco, Texas.

She is survived by her children, Alice Scott, Virginia Brown, Rose Villarreal and husband Florentino, Henrietta Villarreal, Stella Cantu and husband Juan B., and Henry Flores, Jr. and wife Noemi; as well as many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.

Martina is also survived by her sisters, Julia Bravo and Pauline M. Chavez; brothers, Reyes Carrizales and wife Sylvia, and Roman Carrizales; sisters-in-law, Elia Maldonado and Ramona Carrizales; and cousins, Mildred Arrellano and George Banda and wife Grace.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Henry C. Florez.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Florentino Villarreal, Jr., David Cantu, Thomas Brown, Fernando Villarreal, Johnny Cantu, Joe Brown, Mike Villarreal, III., and Tom Aiken.

We would like to thank our mother’s caregiver, Tiffany Lee, for giving such loving care to our mother. Thank you to all at Bluebonnet Hospice Care, especially Roseann, Laurie, and Gabby.