Helen Florez Miller, age 78, passed away on Saturday, March 9, 2024. Helen was born on June 8, 1945, in Grottaglie, Taranto, Italy, to Armando Florez, an American WWII soldier from Odem, Texas and Giuseppina D’Amicis from Grottaglie. After WWII, the family moved to Mathis, Texas and opened a grocery store close to Lake Corpus Christi.
Helen was the eldest of eleven children, eight girls and three boys. She always helped her mother and was a second Mother to her siblings.
Helen graduated from Mathis High School in 1964 and graduated from Southwest Texas State University in 1968. She started her Spanish teaching career at Brazoswood High School in Freeport, Texas in 1969, the year the school opened. Helen taught Spanish I and III and English as a Second Language (ESL) for 50 years. Helen received her Master’s degree from Texas A&I. She won several Teacher of the Year Awards throughout her career. She loved her students and helped them find jobs as they started their careers. In fact, several of her students became Spanish teachers which is a testament to her influence.
Helen married Charles Jesse Miller from Freeport, Texas on July 5, 1969. They had two children, Tanya and Jesse, Jr. Helen and Jesse raised their family in Oyster Creek, Texas where Jesse’s parents and family lived. There were many summers where Helen’s family from Mathis came to spend time in Oyster Creek, crabbing, fishing and enjoying Surfside. The Florez family enjoyed their trips to Oyster Creek and still remember the fun that was had by all.
Helen loved to cook Mexican and Cajun cuisines and to bake bread. She also planted many vegetables, which included large tomatoes, squash, greens, okra, and fruits, such as figs, papayas, oranges and Meyer lemon. She gave her produce away to friends and family.
Helen was loved by all who knew her. She was generous, loving, and caring. She always made you feel welcomed in her home.
Preceded in death are her parents, Armando and Giuseppina Florez, husband, Charles Jesse Miller, brother, William D. Florez and nephew, Scott McGinty.
Helen is survived by her children, Tanya (Jeffery) Bingham, Charles Jesse, Jr. and granddaughter, Jessica (Jocelyn) Rahm; sisters, Sandra Florez-Loechel of Alvin, Texas; Rosalee F. Harris of Huffman, Texas; Irma Jo Florez of Roseboro, North Carolina; Angie (James) McGinty of Alvin, Texas; Anna Marie (Larry) Brown of Waco, Texas; Jeanetta (Gina) of Austin, Texas; Benedetta “Darla” (Tommy) Duplantis; brothers, Dino Florez of Freeport, Texas and Dominick Florez of Austin, Texas, 18 nieces and nephews and 15 great nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Helen’s life will be held at Restwood Funeral Home, 1038 Plantation Dr., Clute, Texas on Monday, March 18th with visitation from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm followed by the rosary starting at 7:30 pm.
The funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 10:00 a.m., 201 N. Lazy Lane, Clute, Texas.
Serving as Pallbearers will be David Florez, Joseph Florez, Anthony Duplantis, Enzo Loechel, Tyler Lauw, Mike Rahm; and Honorary Pallbearers will be Lonnie Key, Ricky Leger, Dwayne Leger, Keith Leger, and Bryan Comeaux.
