Gloria Flores Puig was born in Fort Worth, Texas, December 7, 1938. After graduating from All Saints Catholic Church High School in Fort Worth, Gloria took classes at Texas Christian University. Afterwards she was offered a job with the Texas Refinery Company transcribing business letters into both English and Spanish. The Texas Refinery Company took their employees on many travels giving Gloria the opportunity to visit many places. She especially loved the time she spent in Hawaii and Mexico City.
Gloria Flores married the late Juan Puig of Hebbronville in 1961, a blessed marriage that was to last 52 years. Juan was known to have said on more than one occasion, “Behind every successful man is a great woman.” A year or two after marrying, they moved to Hebbronville, later moving to Roma for only a few short years and finally returning to Hebbronville, a place Gloria would call home. Gloria and Juan will continue to be joined eternally as they chose to be interred together, his ashes being placed with her in her final resting place.
Gloria was creative and always full of ideas. Sometimes she found the means to express them in the community, like opening a tuxedo rental business and organizing a talent show where anyone in the community could come and showcase their talent. She always saw the best in people and believed all possessed a special gift. She was involved in the school PTA heading successful Halloween carnivals. Her love and natural ability to teach was evident during her years at the Christian Day School where she shared her energies, ideas, and care.
Gloria was a God-fearing woman and active in the local Catholic church. She was involved in the Cursillo Movement, bible study groups and served as a mentor to couples preparing for marriage. Two of her favorite quotes were “Be still and know that I Am God” and “This too shall pass.” That was perhaps because she was the mother of 8 boisterous children, 2 boys and 6 girls. She taught them that Jesus, prayer, and the Golden Rule were the way of life. She led by example, not preaching. She welcomed anyone and everyone in the home, and no one ever went away without being fed. She performed many acts of kindness wherever she was, of which only her children were aware, because her altruism was genuine, never needing public praise. Most profoundly, she refused to ever gossip, and up to her dying day her children have never ever heard gossip leave her lips.
Gloria instilled the love of reading, song, play, life, love and encouragement in her children and grandchildren. She supplied her kids with a variety of reading material and had her kids frequent the local library. The mention of a word would trigger her bursting into song at any given time. The tradition of piling into a vehicle with her children to look at Christmas lights and singing carols was extended to the grandchildren. She insisted on family picnics at Easter and her annual Grandma’s Day Out at the beach. She was playful; her children and then later her grandchildren were surprised and amused when she would mischievously cheat at playing cards or board games and then laugh heartily when they were
finally on to her. Attesting to her sense of adventure, once on a cold and rainy day she chose to climb the peak in the Smokies while others opted to hunker in the warmth of the van. She was the voice of encouragement often saying, “I knew you could do it!”
Gloria Flores Puig is preceded in death by her husband Juan Puig of Hebbronville, parents Jesus A. Flores and Consuelo Berber Flores, sister Maria Louisa Contreras (Pete), sister Carolyn Flores, all of Fort Worth, TX, and great-granddaughter Emmaline Rose Lujan (John and Crystal) of Odessa.
She is survived by her children Raul Puig of Hebbronville, Veronica Palacios (Delio) of Hebbronville, Patricia Lujan (Federico) of Zapata, Diane Fernandez (Erbey) of North Richland Hills, Joanna Burke (Curtis) of Tennessee, Linda Gonzalez (Jaime) of Edinburg, Juan Puig, Jr. of Lytle, Cynthia Puig Manriquez (Joe) of Hebbronville, sisters Maria Magdalena Ramos (the late Mario Ramos) of San Antonio, Irene Flores of Fort Worth, brother-in-law Raul Puig (the late Estela Puig) of Riviera, 26 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and numerous nephews and nieces.
Gloria always blessed her children and grandchildren in their travels. In memory and honor of Gloria, may the blessing be extended to you: The Lord goes before you, prepares the way, His angels surround you. Amen.
Funeral Services:
September 25, 2020
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Hebbronville, Texas
Visitation: 9:00 a.m. Rosary: 10:00 a.m. Mass: 11:00 a.m.
Interment: 12:00 p.m. - New Hebbronville Cemetery - 285 E. Hwy - Hebbronville, Texas
Gloria loved flowers, but donations may also be given to the following:
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church
504 E. Santa Clara St.
Hebbronville, Texas 78361
or
Catholic Sharing Appeal of Laredo, Texas
1901 Corpus Christi, St.
Laredo, Texas 78043
or
Sacred Heart Children’s Home
3310 S Zapata Hwy.
Laredo, Texas 78046
