Adelfa Flores Parrish

Houston, Texas – Our loving, beautiful and amazing mother, Adelfa Flores Parrish, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 26, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. She was born in Wharton, Texas on July 12, 1924, to Vicente Flores and Antonia Salinas. Weighing less than four pounds at birth, her survival was nothing short of miraculous – an early testament to the strength and determination that defined her more than 101 extraordinary years.

Adelfa was the eldest of six siblings and lived in the east end of Houston. At the age of 11, her family moved to Nuevo Laredo where she had to forego her education to work and earn money for her family. From cleaning homes to becoming an expert seamstress, she demonstrated remarkable maturity and an incredible work ethic. Adelfa Flores married David Parrish on May 17, 1941, in Laredo, Texas and moved to Magnolia Park in Houston before settling in the Denver Harbor area of Houston.

In addition to raising her six children, Adelfa served Houston Independent School District disabled students, first as a dedicated HISD school bus driver, then as a member of the routing and scheduling team of the HISD transportation department for twenty-eight years. She would complete her work bus route and then drive her own children to their games, activities, and schooling. She was also an avid fan of golf and the Houston Astros and faithfully followed professional golf and the Astros every chance she got.

After her children were grown and beginning their own careers, Adelfa finally took time for herself. A lifelong advocate for education, she enrolled in night classes and proudly earned her GED, proving that learning is a lifelong journey and a source of personal growth.

God was central in Adelfa’s life. She began and ended her day in prayer and during times of illness, hardship, or uncertainty, family and community alike turned to her – believing her prayers carried a direct line to God’s ears. She was a faithful member of Resurrection Church for 75 years, volunteering and serving in a variety of roles including Lector, Eucharistic Minister, member of the Altar Society and the church choir. She had a beautiful singing voice and when she sang you could hear her distinctive, rich sound throughout the church.

Believing she could do all things with God by her side, Adelfa excelled at everything she set her mind to. She could change a car tire, fix plumbing, perform carpentry and even arm wrestle--and defeat--her own grown grandsons. She comforted every child who needed her and nourished everyone fortunate enough to visit her kitchen. Like Jesus with the loaves and fishes, she could make any dish stretch to feed her ever-growing family. Sunday dinners were well attended by her children and grandchildren- always eager to visit her for rich conversation and a tasty plate of whatever she had on the stove. Even her simplest meals, like rice and beans, revived the weariest of souls.

Blessed with a remarkable memory that never faded, Adelfa served as the family matriarch and historian. She vividly recalled living through the Great Depression, World War II and was able to share wonderful stories of the family and of our past to her progeny. Fluent in both Spanish and English, she often shifted effortlessly between the two, bridging generations and uniting her community.

Adelfa was preceded in death by her parents, husband David Parrish, son Edward Parrish and three brothers, Vincent, Ruben and Edward. She is survived by her two sisters, Dalia Rosales, and Marina Gonzales, three sons, David (Louise), Richard (Terry), and Frank (Carol), two daughters, Gloria Ayala (Ray) and Thelma Garza; eight grandchildren Chris Parrish (Gina), Greg Garza (Angie), Kirk Parrish (Jill), Michael Parrish (Tamara) Dana Gentry (Mark), Alyssa Parrish-Bublewicz (Michael), Monica Parrish-McClendon (Tim), and Amanda Parrish Brown, 13 great-grandchildren, six great-great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Quoting from Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life, “Without God, Life makes no sense. The purpose of Life is to Love and Serve God and your fellow man and give witness to God’s goodness!” Adelfa Parrish surely fulfilled that purpose.

Pallbearers: Chris Parrish, Greg Garza, Kirk Parrish, Michael Parrish, Mark Gentry, Michael Bublewicz, Tim McClendon, Joseph Casas

Services for Adelfa Flores Parrish:

Monday, February 9, 2026

Grand Chapel Forest Park Lawndale

Visitation:

3:30-4:30 PM Family

4:30-8:30 PM Public

6:00 PM Rosary

Words from Family and Friends after rosary

Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Resurrection Catholic Church 915 Zoe Street

10:30 AM Mass

Committal Service -Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery

12:00 PM ETA

Reception to follow in the reception hall of Forest Park Lawndale