Marie Agnes Gambino Flores

Marie Agnes Gambino Flores, Age 93 On Thursday, November 4, 2021, Marie Flores passed peacefully from this world after a brief illness. The daughter of the late Frank and Estelle Gambino, she was married to her beloved Anthony H. Flores for 37 years until he passed in 1990. Surviving are her children, Maria “Pete” Durgan of Arlington, Anthony Flores (Linda) of Virginia Beach, and Joseph Flores (Tawnya) of Arlington, and her sister, Camille Noel (Stephen) of Hyattsville. Grandchildren are Melissa Flores Mauer, Terese Flores Mackin, Jessica Flores, and Anthony Michael Flores; and great-grandchildren are Virginia Mackin, John Mackin and River Mauer. Marie was preceded in death by her sisters, Madelyn, Frances, Lois, Patricia, Kathryn and Eleanor and brothers, Frank, John, James and Joel. Marie was a vibrant and loving woman who was devoted to her family and her church, particularly St. Thomas More Church (STM). Her volunteer efforts with the parish began when she helped with the school library when her children attended. She developed close personal friendships with the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary who taught there. In the mid-1960s, she invited them to a backyard picnic, which grew over the years into a Memorial Weekend Picnic that was beloved by her large extended family and friends. The last picnic, in 2019 before COVID, was the 54th annual event. Marie’s other volunteer efforts at STM included a Wednesday morning Arts and Crafts group, which started in the 1980s and continued until Covid. The group provided a social activity for seniors in the parish, where members worked on knitting, crocheting, sewing and other crafts that were sold as a fundraiser for the church at a fall spaghetti dinner. Marie also led, participated in and cooked for many church events, such as the spaghetti dinner, St. Patrick’s Day dinner, Lentin suppers, bereavement receptions, receptions for the Diocese priests, Sunday coffee after Mass and more. She was an expert seamstress. She made vestments and altar cloths; and the parish priests often asked her to repair their items of clothing. Marie was an excellent cook, known particularly for her “funeral cake,” baked beans, and potato salad. Her family dinners were a feast for all! Marie was active until the COVID pandemic closed down parish activities. Until then, it was common to see her in the basement of the church at most events walking around with her cane, making sure everything was going well and everyone was having a good time. She lived a life of service to its fullest, and Marie will be greatly missed by all who knew her.