Maurilia ("Mauri") L. Flores was born on September 13, 1928 in Merced, CA. After a brief illness, she died peacefully at home on June 7, 2018 with her loving husband, children, and grandchildren at her side.
A resident of Riverside, CA from an early age, Maurilia graduated from Riverside Poly High School (1947). As a camadre and friend, Maurilia was a treasured member of the Riverside community and was a chairperson of the Fiesta Ranchera of Our Lady Guadalupe Shrine. Previously employed by the Harris Company department store, she worked for more than twenty years for the Riverside Unified School District as an aide in English as a second language classrooms.
With her husband Paul, Maurilia was an accomplished world traveler with decades of journeys to dozens of countries. Her favorite memories included climbing the Great Wall of China and traversing the canals of Venice. Closer to home, Maurilia enjoyed preparing dinners for her extended family which were accompanied with hours of convivial conversation around the dining table, tending her roses, and enthusiastically and adroitly line dancing at the Goeske Senior Center. Christmas was an important time for Maurilia and included annual traditions of making tamales with her grandchildren and selecting individual new Christmas tree ornaments for them. Another Christmas tradition was the three-generation Flores family trek to a local movie, the choice of which was determined by an extended and spirited multi-round voting process.
Maurilia was predeceased by her parents Albina and Petronilo Lozano, brothers Louie, Gregorio and Leonides, and sisters Mary and Elidia. She is survived by her loving husband of 67 years, Paul M. Flores; her children Teresa Toste (spouse Frank Toste), Maurilia June Flores (spouse Gregg Thomson), Paul Flores Jr (spouse Sheri Flores), and Mary Jane Barger (spouse Jeffrey Barger); grandchildren Frank Toste Jr., Francine Story, Lisa Moeller, Cody Flores, April Flores, Marita Barger, Erika Barger, and Elena Barger; and four great-grandchildren.
Throughout her life Maurilia embraced her Catholic faith, and she will be greatly missed by her family.
There will be a viewing from 5:00-8:00 pm with a rosary at 6:00 pm on Thursday, June 14, 2018 at the Acheson & Graham Garden of Prayer Mortuary (7944 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside).
Mass will be at Saint Catherine of Alexandria Church (3680 Arlington Ave, Riverside) at 10:00 am on Friday, June 15, 2018, followed by the burial ceremony at Olivewood Cemetery (3300 Central Ave, Riverside) at 11:30 pm. There will be a reception immediately following, the location of which will be announced at the viewing and at the church service.
