Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Flores

Mary Flores Mary Flores, 94, passed away peacefully on November 22, 2024. A beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, Mary, or “Gram”, will always be remembered for her love of family and her kind and giving spirit. Born in Bakersfield, California, on May 21, 1930, to Hattie Smith and Sebastian Di Martini, Mary was a child of the Great Depression. She learned at a young age to appreciate the little things in life and not take any blessings for granted. One of those blessings was her family with four siblings, Josephine, Sam, Ann, and Vera with whom she had many adventures. As the baby of the family, Mary experienced her life getting quieter as her older siblings began moving out and away for more adventures in other places. One of those places was the Central Coast of California which Mary fell in love with and convinced her mother to move to San Luis Obispo around 1942. She always described her new home as being the most beautiful valley surrounded by mountains and close to the ocean. Fortunately, Mary remained in this special town for the rest of her life only relocating briefly to Fresno and Shell Beach in the early 1950’s. San Luis Obispo was her “home”. It was where she attended San Luis Obispo High School and met her future husband, Charles Flores. It is where she raised her children. It is also where she attended church at Old Mission San Luis Obispo and witnessed the many baptisms and weddings of her four children, seven grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. She loved her life in San Luis! Being fortunate enough to have most of her family remain in San Luis County for all of her life, Mary never missed an opportunity to host holiday meals and birthday parties. She was both generous and gracious in her time and energy spent spoiling everyone. She was known for her amazing culinary skills and loved both cooking and baking. Grandma Mary’s German chocolate cake is legendary along with her holiday press and sugar cookies. When Mary wasn’t entertaining or caring for her family and other loved ones, she found time to work as a salesclerk for Riley’s Department store in the 1960’s. By the 1970’s and into the 1990’s, Mary found a place for her passion and talent for preparing and cooking meals for large groups. She became the Cafeteria Supervisor at San Luis Obispo High School. Her work ethic was exemplary. As if this wasn’t a busy enough life, Grandma Mary was there for her grandchildren. She would pick them up from school and, before heading to Gram’s House, they might be spotted at Foster’s Freeze or Sunshine Donuts. She always found time to attend her grandchildren’s sports events, just as she had her own children’s back in the 60’s and 70’s. She really was the biggest fan! Mary was preceded in death by all of her siblings, her husband, Charles, and her eldest daughter, Joanne Ward. She is survived by her daughter and sons, Nancy Thorne (Tim), Charles Flores, and David Flores (Sherrie). Mary is also survived by her grandchildren, Kelly Palmieri (Jarret), Bryan Treanor (Brooke), Mary Paez, Kevin Thorne (Lauren), Alana Ybarra (Francisco), Matt Flores (Taylor), and Allie Flores (Ben). She has ten great-grandchildren and multiple nieces, and nephews. A vigil in the form of a rosary will be held on Sunday, December 15, at 4:00 p.m. at Reis Family Mortuary at 991 Nipomo Street, San Luis Obispo. A funeral mass will be held on Monday, December 16, at 10:00 at Old Mission San Luis Obispo at 751 Palm Street. Burial, immediately following the service, will be at San Luis Cemetery at 2 Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo. Reception will occur immediately after the burial at Old Mission Parish Hall at 751 Palm Street. Memorial contributions may be made to: • Wilshire Hospice by visiting www.wilshirehcs.org/donate • Alzheimer’s Association by visiting alz.org

Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Flores

May 21, 1930 - November 22, 2024