Esther Flores Ramirez

Esther Flores Ramirez passed away on Nov. 22, 2021 at the age of 95. She is survived by her three living children and spouses: Daughter Rosalinda Rodriguez, son Raymond Ramirez and wife Sylvia, and daughter Esther Villegas and husband Vincent. She had five grandchildren and five great grandchildren. She was preceded in death in 1956 by her first husband Ramon, and by her daughter Annette Bermea, a child from her second marriage, who passed away in 2014 after a long battle with Kearns-Sayre’s syndrome. She also lost three brothers, Daniel Flores, Benjamin Flores, Robert Flores, and two sisters, Delia Castano and Stella Guerra many years before her death. She was the last surviving member of a large family.

Esther was a hard worker. At a very young age, her father and mother had to work in the cotton fields in order to feed the family. As a young girl, she picked cotton until her hands were raw. She attended school during the off-peak season and sometimes would not complete the school year due to migrant life. She eventually ended up dropping out of school after the fourth grade to continue helping out with family finances.

Esther was a loving and caring mother who was widowed at the age of 30 and had the responsibility of raising a daughter who was nine, a son who was six, and the unborn child she was expecting when her husband passed away of a massive heart attack. She had the ability to do double duty, as both mother father as she struggled to support her young family. She sold Stanley products for a while. When that didn’t really provide a stable income, she decided to attend cosmetology school even though it was incredibly difficult for her. Fortunately, she really enjoyed working with hair styling. When she graduated, she worked for a while at a beauty shop on Highland Blvd. A few years later, she bought the beauty shop and ran it for many years until her retirement. She was ethical and kind and treated all her customers in the special way they appreciated.

Being a single mom, she still had the responsibility of shuttling her kids to separate schools in the morning, and then picking them up at the end of the school day. She would have to take care of her baby while working at the beauty shop since reliable babysitters were scarce. It was very difficult, but that’s what she sacrificed for her kids. She believed in being firm when necessary. Her guidance and discipline contributed to raising a strong family unit who valued ambition and honesty toward others.

Mom loved to have parties and celebrations at her house. She especially enjoyed the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. Even when she no longer had the energy to actually make all the arrangements, her children stepped in and coordinated all the details. She loved to play games at these parties, bingo being her favorite, and would buy all the small gifts to give out when someone won. She totally enjoyed having her family around her. If any of her family was having problems, she was the first who would offer help. Our mother always inspired her children to reach for higher goals, always with unconditional love and a sympathetic ear whenever it was needed. That love was completely reciprocated by her children. There was no one like her. The family is inconsolable at losing such a remarkable lady. She will be so incredibly missed, but we are grateful that our mom is no longer suffering. Her last few weeks were full of so much pain. Rest in Peace our beautiful mama.

Visitation will be held 9:00 am Thursday December 2, 2021 at Roy Akers, 515 N. Main Ave. with a 10:00 am Chapel Service. Interment to follow in San Jose Burial Park.