Oralia Flores Gomez

Oralia Gomez was born to Refugion Herrera Flores and Catarina Medrano Flores in Alice, TX on November 11, 1945. She was fond of her childhood memories of her father playing in a guitar circle with his brother, who was her uncle, Tio Pepe. She noted they played with upcoming local Tejano musicians of the era. She remembered her grandmother sewing custom clothing for her as a child and preparing homemade lunches for school. She attended Mary Carroll High School in her youth and then studied at Del Mar College before moving with her family to Austin, TX. In Austin, she found work at a local H-E-B grocery store selling Texas Gold Stamps.

She married Robert Robledo Gomez and later had 2 children, Stevie and Thomas Gomez. Later, as a single mother, she cared for her own mother with dementia while working in a long career in various administrative positions, at St. David’s Medical Center, where her service to people in a medical setting earned her many Star Awards. She held a faith in God, love, and people and recalled the local church she lived next to. She often recited prayers from her mother’s prayer books. She was artistic and learned to make extra money by selling her arts and crafts. She was a woman who loved and knew her family's oral history. She loved to keep good company and have great conversations in person or on the phone with her family and friends. She was a giver who sacrificed for others, lending to those in need. When she was diagnosed with dementia, she was cared for by various family members. Though her memory lapsed at times, she never forgot those she loved or the memory of her father and mother, often honoring their graves with flowers and respect.

Oralia Gomez passed away on April 22, 2025. She leaves behind her greatest legacy of 2 grown children, Stevie and Thomas Gomez, grandchildren, a brother and sister, nieces and nephews, beloved cousins, friends, and an impact on the lives she touched. As her family we mourn her loss, but celebrate her life by honoring her memory with the love we have for her.