Maria Antonia Flores-Smith

Maria Antonia “Toni” Flores-Smith passed away at the age of 86 on Sunday, the 13th of July 2014, surrounded by her family. She was born on October 12, 1927 in San Francisco del Rincon, Guanajuato, Mexico to Antero Flores and Antonia Perez de Flores. She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 28 years, Philip Smith; daughters Mary Flores-Price, and Gisela Blohm Cherches and son-in-law Igor; grandchildren Ian Price and his wife Jennifer, Matthew Cherches and Alexander Cherches, great grandchildren Zoe Price and Connor Price, and many loving relatives in Mexico, Texas and Germany.

Toni received her primary education in San Diego, Texas, where her father's family were original Texas settlers and she was a 7th generation Texan. At age 16 she moved to Fresnillo, Zac. Mexico, to be with her mother's family and attend school. She graduated with a business degree from the Academia Moderna de Comercio in Fresnillo, Zacatecas and worked as the Executive Assistant to the President of the Miner's Union, before immigrating permanently with her five year old daughter to the United States in 1955. She had a career in the shipping and export industry in Houston for 40 years, until retiring in 1995. She married the love of her life Philip Smith in 1986, with her grown daughters standing by her side and her firstborn grandson as the ring bearer.

She was in youth a woman of stunning beauty and later a gracious family matriarch, sharing both her great wisdom and irreverent wit with family and many friends. She was passionate about food and traditions; she was a wonderful cook and an avid hostess. She also loved music and dance, and would not miss any opportunity to celebrate the joys of life. Toni was a woman of strength and fierce determination, a devoted and giving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, and a person of deep faith. She was authentic in all things she said, did and believed. She was generous of heart and she loved without reservation.

There will be a rosary recited in her memory on Sunday, July 20 at 7 pm at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 6800 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, TX 77025. A memorial service will be held the following day, Monday at 4 pm, also at St. Vincent de Paul, with a reception to follow at 5 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the American Diabetes Association.