Flora was the youngest of 14 children and was born in Carlsbad, New Mexico. She passed away peacefully with prayers and her favorite songs her last five days at my daughter/daughter-n-law’s home (Aleesha & Kaitlyn Herrera). Flora married Frank Cadena in 1949, and after 17 years of marriage, decided to adopt a beautiful baby girl---me! Mom was 40, Dad was 49 when they welcomed this piece of work. They gave me life, and I gave them life! We were a team; we traveled everywhere together, did everything together; they volunteered at the Visalia Chamber of Commerce, Kings/Tulare Area Agency on Aging, and AARP Senior Employment. My Mother worked picking cotton, sorting at packing houses and at a cannery in Sunnyvale (Kal Kan Foods), as a crossing guard for Cutler-Orosi School District, a Senior Transportation Driver and a Tour Bus Operator (Flora’s Gambling Tours). She was a favorite Aunt/Tia, Nina, Prima, and Friend to many. We were blessed to spend this past Mother’s Day together as a family at my son Frank & Savannah’s home; she ate, laughed and smiled for the cameras, not knowing that she would leave us soon. Oh Mom! You did everything super duper. I’ll see you in my dreams, and don’t forget to throw me a rock, a flower or send me a sign that you’re with me; you and Dad. You are simply the best!
Mom leaves myself and my husband Saul Solis (she lived with us over three years after breaking her hip), her grandkids, Aleesha Monee Herrera (Kaitlyn) and Frank Daniel Herrera (Savannah), favorite nephew Jesse (Lola, JJ, Jayson) Cadena, cherished nieces Enedina Grijalva, Lucy Valenzuela (Pete), best friends Rosa Lopez and Mona (Jonathan), Pat Rodriguez (Ailayah), Brandon Garza, the Licon family (which includes 500+ nephews/nieces), the Villegas primos/primas, and the rest of the “chain gang” Cadena family.
Services are Tuesday, June 13th, 5-6 pm viewing, 6 pm rosary at Miller Memorial Chapel, Visalia. A Catholic mass will follow on Wednesday, June 14th, 12 noon at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Cutler, then she will be buried with husband Frank Cadena at Smith Mountain Cemetery in Dinuba. Please join us for a hosted celebration of life at the Orosi Memorial Hall after burial.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.millerchapel.com for the Cadena family.
