Since loved children, she always babysat & helped raise others children including Pat’s  children, Stephanie and Stevie. Aunt Flo was an extremely warm-loving, patient and caring woman. As a rule, she never disciplined a child with her hand.  Instead, she reasoned with them which is why so many of her nieces and grand nieces and grand nephews loved being with her. As time progressed Pat asked Aunt Flo to be Stephanie’s Godmother. Of course she said “yes”. 

Aunt Flo was an exceptional cook. There were times when she planned to cook a certain meal (like crab square casserole) but realized she didn’t have crab so she substituted it with tuna. If she didn’t have bread crumbs, she’d use cornflakes. Another time she discovered she didn’t have mayonnaise. So she very calmly said “I’ll make the mayonnaise.” I was shocked.  Her meals were all always flavorful and delicious. It was terrific. 

When Aunt Flo wasn’t cooking for everyone, she worked at Arden’s. She was truly talented with apparel including coordinating specific shades of nylons with each and every outfit she owned. She was an exceptional dresser. Eventually she retired. 

 Then, in 1994, when our grandparents home was sold, Aunt Flo resided with her close friend Pat and Stephanie. Pat took very good care of Aunt Flo and made sure she got the medical attention that she was in dire need of.  This was the key to Aunt Flo living to be 102 years old. I am most appreciative that Pat and family went beyond the call of duty to welcoming Aunt Flo. 

Later on in life, Aunt Flo resided with her brother Manny and, then, with her sister Aggie for many years. After Aunt Aggie’s passing, her daughter, Catherine, & DIL Elizabeth, continued to care for Aunt Flo until she was able to move into Rowland Convalescent Hospital in Covina, California. One of her nurses conveyed to me that she was deeply loved by everyone. They cherished her.  
God rest your soul in peace. Love you dearly Aunt Flo. -Gwendolyn (Vierra) Fisher

Here’s Great Aunt Flo with her nieces, grand nieces and a great grand niece. Literally 4 generations of our family. Aunt Flo was truly an extroverted, warm loving generous woman with a heart of gold. So many of us lived with her and her father Papa Braz. She would come home from work and then cook for 10 of us including papa braz and it didn’t bother her at all. Aunt Flo’s love for family and cooking always brought our entire family and extended families to Papa Braz’ house for the holidays. Since we are Portuguese and Catholic, there’d be at least 100 people in the house. All of the children sat at the “kids table” while the adults sat at the really long dining room table. Delicious food, good company and lots of stories. (Aunt Flo’s eldest sister  Mary Braz Vierra (my Grandma) had 10 children, 36 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren). Although there were a lot of us in the home, Aunt Flo and Papa Braz loved all of the laugher and the noise. When it was time for us to leave to go home, Aunt Flo always told us  “okay dearies we love you so much” and then they’d give us the strongest hugs and lots of kisses.

Here’s Great Aunt Flo with the true love of her life and her eldest sister Mary. At one time Aunt Flo joined a convent bc she wanted to become a nun. When she saw a nun eating by herself while the rest of the nuns were eating their meal at a table, Aunt Flo went over to the nun and told her to join them. Mother Superior scolded Aunt Flo and made Aunt Flo sit next to the other nun in silence. The rules required all nuns to remain in silence. There was no way Aunt Flo could live in silence considering she was a major chatterbox. So she parted ways with the nun’s order and returned home to take care of her Papa Braz.  One of the blessings of Aunt Flo wanting to become a nun, was how she understood the vow of chastity. So when her sister brought home this handsome man named Justin Maurath, who served as a Lt. Colonel in the US Air Force, it was love at first sight for both Justin and Aunt Flo. Although they were soulmates, since Justin was also an ordained Catholic Priest (Padre) & served as Chaplain in the U.S. Air Force, they both knew they couldn’t be together as they both respected the vow of Chastity. It was truly honorable that they both chose to serve the Lord in their own respective ways.

Since Aunt Flo and Padre were very religious, in 1976, when my twin sister and I received our first holy communion, they gifted each of us a First Holy Communion Bible that came with this beautiful rosary. Every night I use this rosary, it brings back a tremendous amount of emotions from all of the years that we spent with Aunt Flo, Padre and Papa Braz.

Here’s Great Aunt Flo with her best friend and sister-in-law Alice (aka wife of Aunt Flo’s eldest brother Louis Braz). Although Aunt Flo was truly the life of the party, once Aunt Flo and Aunt Alice got together, the amount fun and mischief they got into will never be forgotten.  After Aunt Alice’s husband, Louis Braz, died, Aunt Alice and Aunt Flo spent a lot of time together having dinner and attending gatherings at Aunt Alice’s older sister, Aunt Amy’s (and her husband Uncle Ed’s) house.  Aunt Amy and Uncle Ed also invited us to join them for gatherings at their home as well. On one occasion, as we were celebrating Aunt Alice’s Birthday, Aunt Alice had had a little more than a few sips of her Cold Duck drink when she told Aunt Flo to join her into jumping into the swimming pool, clothes and all. So they did despite neither of them knowing how to swim nor having a change of clothing. Aunt Alice’s nephews had to jump into the pool and rescue Aunt Flo and Aunt Alice. Oh did the they get scoldings from Aunt Amy.  Initially we were frightened. Once Aunt Flo and Aunt Alice starting laughing, however, the rest of us laughed (except for Aunt Amy who was not having this at all).

Here’s Great Flo Flo with her siblings and her Papa.  Aunt Flo was the rascal of the family and full of energy, life and joy. In 1992 or 1993 she and her eldest sister Mary Braz Vierra (my grandma) joined Mary’s daughter, Audrey Vierra Tilley, (my aunt) and her husband Max (my uncle) on the Pride of America Cruise Ship that sailed around the Hawaiian Islands. Aunt Flo was like 70 or 71 and each time she saw a male employee on the cruise ship, she’d give her phone number to that man and told him to call her anytime for a date. Aunt Flo’s sister Mary would scold her and tell Aunt Flo she was old enough to be those boys’ grandmother. 

In 2005 or so, when Aunt Flo moved in with her sister Agnes, Aunt Aggie taught Aunt Flo how to knit. So when I went to graduate school to pursue my master’s degree in California, Aunt Flo offered to knit scarves and beanies for me since I had none. I sent her a bunch a large skeins of yarn with the colors that matched my coats. Aunt Flo knitted 6 beanies, 6 scarves and 1 tiny scarf for my nephew (her great grand nephew) who was two months old at that time. I used the beanies and scarves for years until they got so worn I couldn’t go out in public. 

God really blessed Aunt Flo with phenomenal health and genes just like her Papa, who died at 92, her younger brother Manuel Braz, who died at 96 in 2021, and her youngest sister Agnes Motley, who died at 95 in 2022. Aunt Flo was the last living member of her own immediate family in which she had 6 siblings beside her and two parents. Although our great grandparents and great aunts and uncles aren’t  physically present with us, we will always have fond memories of them and know that their spirits will always be by our side. We love you so much and will miss all of you forever.

God truly blessed so many of Aunt Flo’s nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews with her presence in our lives and more importantly having been a hanai mother to many of us.  She also raised numerous children, that she babysat, including  her Goddaughter Stephanie. Since our Great Aunt Flo never got married, of course she had no children. So she loved spoiling us by giving us girls coconut shaped purses and really cute dolls. This was so new to us bc we had nothing, no toys or slippers and such. She and her father, Papa Braz, got us ready for school. We were so proud to wear our new clothes and slippers and use our new school supplies.

Since Aunt Flo was a morally good person, I am sure she by-passed purgatory on her way to heaven.  Aunt Flo deeply loved and cared for  her siblings and their children. She would so happily accommodate them when visiting with her fabulous dinners and dessert and the ultimate “specially brewed coffee” that reminded you in our grandparents home, the “home on earth” she loved so much.  Also, when seeing and greeting Aunt Flo with a hug, she always graced with such a fresh and fragrant mist of that she had applied sparingly (not to knock you out). 

I remember when my sister, Audrey, and I would spend a month in the summer with our grandparents and Aunt Flo while growing up. We got to enjoy being with them and helping Aunt Flo in the house, while she was at work, with dusting the furniture and window sills, wiping the dishes and setting table for meals. She also had us crocheting and sewing or I should say learning these creative pastimes.

God truly blessed so many of Aunt Flo’s nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews with her presence in our lives and more importantly having been a hanai mother to many of us.  She also raised numerous children, that she babysat, including  her Goddaughter Stephanie. Since our Great Aunt Flo never got married, of course she had no children. So she loved spoiling us by giving us girls coconut shaped purses and really cute dolls. This was so new to us bc we had nothing, no toys or slippers and such. She and her father, Papa Braz, got us ready for school. We were so proud to wear our new clothes and slippers and use our new school supplies. We loved being with Aunt Flo because she was much fun, spontaneous and filled with joy.

Aunty Flo getting ready to enjoy some of her cupcakes before sharing with her caregivers💖

Aunty Flo verbalizing to her grand niece that she needs a manicure.💜

Aunty Flo with her oldest grand niece Kathi 🩷

Aunty Flo getting ready to enjoy some of her birthday cupcakes along with a couple of her caregivers🎉

This is Aunty Flo and me Kathi, her oldest Grandniece, celebrating her 102nd Birthday 🎉🩷!!!

I am grateful that I was able to see and visit with Aunt Flo a year ago near her birthday, while she resided  in Covina, CA.  Having a conversation with her was special, she seemed to remember some past memories of family members, asking questions about past events.  When discussing relatives that had passed on, she remarked, 'well when you get old, that is what usually happens, you go up'.  ' Yes, I said, you are right', thinking to myself, wow she is lucid and still with us!
God bless you Aunt Flo and I know you are happy and with all of your loved ones now:)

OBITUARY

Florence F Braz

March 28, 1922 – February 22, 2025

Family Mortuary

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