Cecilia Chavez Florez

Carlos Florez 25w

Thank You!!

As I sat and thought about how to properly thank the people who helped us fulfill my Mom’s final wishes, I realized this deserved a message of its own—from the bottom of our hearts, from Carlos and Cecy. We want to sincerely thank Diana Polanco and her family, and Ricky Bencomo, for allowing us to lay my Mom to rest beside the one person she loved so deeply—my Tía Georgia. My Tía Georgia wasn’t just family… she was my Mom’s confidant, her support system, and her best friend. They shared so many conversations, so much laughter, and built a bond that was truly special. And that love extended to us—she cared for us like we were her own. I find myself thinking back on those days—visiting multiple times a week, going to games, and those Lions Club bingo nights. Looking back now, I realize just how special our childhood was… and that was because we had family like this surrounding us with love. So again, thank you. Truly. There’s comfort in knowing that they are together again—already catching up on all the moments they missed. With love and gratitude, Carlos & Cecy Mientras pensaba en cómo agradecer adecuadamente a las personas que nos ayudaron a cumplir los últimos deseos de mi mamá, me di cuenta de que esto merecía un mensaje aparte—desde el fondo de nuestros corazones, de parte de Carlos y Cecy. Queremos agradecer sinceramente a Diana Polanco y a su familia, y a Ricky Bencomo, por permitirnos poner a descansar a mi mamá junto a la persona que ella tanto amaba—mi Tía Georgia. Mi Tía Georgia no era solo familia… era la confidente de mi mamá, su apoyo, y su mejor amiga. Compartieron tantas conversaciones, tantas risas, y construyeron un vínculo verdaderamente especial. Y ese amor también se extendía hacia nosotros—nos cuidaba como si fuéramos sus propios hijos. Me encuentro recordando esos días—visitándolas varias veces a la semana, yendo a juegos, y aquellas noches de bingo en el Lions Club. Ahora, al mirar atrás, me doy cuenta de lo especial que fue nuestra infancia… y eso fue gracias a la familia que siempre nos rodeó con tanto amor. Una vez más, gracias. De verdad. Nos da consuelo saber que ahora están juntas otra vez—poniéndose al día con todos los momentos que se perdieron. Con amor y gratitud, Carlos y Cecy

Carlos Florez 25w

The Reunion

Mom, Today was the day I’ve been carrying with me for a while… the one that brought me so much anxiety. Today, we laid you to rest in Mammoth, next to Tía. But Mom… what I felt more than anything today was love. A love that’s been building for over 50 years. You could see it in everyone who showed up—for you. From me and my sister, Cha Cha, Tía Hopie and Tío Pancho, primo Michael, Lala, Teresa, Panchito… and most of all, your grandkids and great-grandchildren. All the memories… all the laughter… It didn’t feel like a sad day. It felt joyful. Joyful because of the life you lived. Joyful because of the love you gave. Joyful because of how many lives you touched. People didn’t just come to say goodbye… they came because they love you. Because you were that kind of person, Mom. You taught us what family means. You showed us how to love, how to stay strong, and how to keep going no matter what. And I promise you—that doesn’t end here. We carry that with us every single day. Today wasn’t just goodbye… it was a celebration of you. I love you, Mom. Always and forever. ❤️

Carlos Florez 27w

My Momma

There are so many things I could say about my Mom… all the memories, the unconditional love, the tough times we got through together, and the thousands of times I heard, “Carlitos, why did you do that?! Your Dad te va matar!” ❤️ But if I had to sum it up, I’d say this—my Mom was the greatest. She and my Dad raised us the old-school way… with strong morals, hard work, and the belief that family is everything. No matter what we were going through—whether it was cleaning houses, making tamales and tortillas just to make ends meet—our home was always full of love. And because of that, we never felt like we were missing anything. Growing up in the 80s and 90s was different. Life was simpler. It wasn’t about social media or headlines—it was about being present, working hard, and learning that “echándole ganas” meant pushing forward no matter what… going above and beyond, especially for family, and never giving up. Those lessons stuck with me. I carry them every day, and I pass them on to my own kids. In the end, what I can say is this—Mom, you taught me to cherish family above everything else. You showed me that even in the hardest times, there’s always a way to build a better life for the people you love. And for that… I am forever grateful. Te quiero siempre, Mom 💙 Hay tantas cosas que podría decir sobre mi mamá… todos los recuerdos, el amor incondicional, los momentos difíciles que superamos juntos, y las miles de veces que escuché: “Carlitos, ¿por qué hiciste eso? ¡Tu papá te va a matar!” ❤️ Pero si tuviera que resumirlo, diría esto: mi mamá fue la mejor. Ella y mi papá nos criaron a la antigua… con valores fuertes, trabajo duro y la creencia de que la familia lo es todo. No importaba por lo que estuviéramos pasando—ya fuera limpiando casas o haciendo tamales y tortillas para salir adelante—nuestro hogar siempre estuvo lleno de amor. Y por eso, nunca sentimos que nos faltara nada. Crecer en los 80 y 90 fue diferente. La vida era más simple. No se trataba de redes sociales ni de noticias… se trataba de vivir el momento, trabajar duro y aprender que “echarle ganas” significaba seguir adelante pase lo que pase… dar más de lo esperado, especialmente por la familia, y nunca rendirse. Esas lecciones se quedaron conmigo. Las llevo conmigo todos los días y ahora se las enseño a mis propios hijos. Al final, lo que puedo decir es esto: mamá, tú me enseñaste a valorar a la familia por encima de todo. Me enseñaste que incluso en los momentos más difíciles, siempre hay una manera de construir una vida mejor para los que amas. Y por eso… estaré siempre agradecido. Te quiero siempre, mamá 💙