Carolina Estela Flores

Carolina “Estela” Flores died peacefully in her sleep on December 13, 2017 surrounded by her loving family and caregivers. Estela was 87 years old. She was born in Kingsville, Texas on November 12, 1930, as one of 11 children. She graduated from Presbyterian Mexican Missionary Boarding School at the age of 16 and attended University of Texas A & M, where she would meet her future husband Raul Flores. They would go on to celebrate 54 years of marriage. She graduated from Texas A & M with a degree in Business but decided to get a teaching credential afterwards and taught in Alice, Texas. In 1961, Estela, Raul and children moved to the Bay Area. She worked as a legal secretary in Fremont then finally decided to go to law school. She graduated from Santa Clara School of Law, obtaining her Juris Doctorate in 1977. She went on to practice civil law in Fremont for the next 15 years. She was awarded “Business Woman of the Year” in 1985. She was trilingual and was also recognized for serving the Portuguese and Spanish-speaking communities. She retired from her law practice yet still wanted to give back so she taught English as a second language at the Fremont Adult School. Being involved in the Religious Science Church, she translated Science of the Mind, a religious science textbook, into Spanish, stating, “The truth is important and it should be available in Spanish.” The book is now being used throughout the Spanish-speaking world. She was known to family and friends as a musician, and she loved playing the piano and singing whenever she got the chance. She was very proud of her children and grandchildren, instilling in them the value of education and the importance of family. She is survived by daughters, Sylvia Flores of San Anselmo, Judith Flores of Vallejo, Patricia Flores of San Leandro, sons Ronald Flores and wife, Barbara of Livermore, Rollie Flores and wife Diana of Fairfield and Thomas Flores and wife Kyung of Dublin, and her 10 grandchildren, Corey Leavitt, Nicolas and Annalisa Duenas, Caroline and Andrew Ham, Matthew and Nathan Flores, Jessica and Rebecca Flores, and Jasmin Flores. She is also survived by sisters Juanita Alma Salinas-Mendietta, Margaret Salinas-Saenz and Elizabeth Salinas-Siaz, and brothers Rafael Salinas, David Salinas, and Roberto Salinas. She was predeceased by her husband Raul Flores, sisters Aurora Salinas-Harper, Noemi Salinas-Lopez, and brothers Daniel Salinas and Manuel Salinas. A Memorial service for family and friends will be held at Berge-Pappas-Smith Chapel of the Angels in Fremont on Friday, December 22 at 10:30 am. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Hospice, the ALS Association or your favorite charity in her name.