Celina Flores

Celina Flores, 82 of Las Cruces, NM passed away surrounded by loved ones on September 22, 2023. Celina was born in Mesilla Park, NM on July 25, 1941, to Catarina Apodaca Sanchez. Celina grew up in Mesilla Park, where she had many fond memories of her adventures and helping on the family rancho. Celina was a Girl Scout earning The Second-Class Girl Scout award and numerous other badges. On December 9, 1957, she married Gonzalo (Chalo) Flores. The love of her life. An accomplishment she was very proud of. Remarrying Gonzalo twice a year, once on their anniversary and once during the annual marriage mass at church. Celina had one of the hardest, but the most rewarding jobs, as a homemaker. She was the best mother to three sons and four daughters and set the bar high. She was an excellent cook and chances are if you visited the Flores home, you were lucky enough to be served one of her delicious red enchiladas (with fried potatoes if you were extra lucky), or one of her homemade cheeseburgers. During the holidays Celina enjoyed baking pumpkin pies during Thanksgiving for her beloved church, Santa Rosa De Lima. She used her Halloween Pumpkins to make fresh pumpkin puree and often made 13 or more pies for her church. Celina Enjoyed baking and gifting Biscochos during Christmas time. She would leave the mailman and newspaper carrier a cookie surprise in the mail and newspaper boxes. Her doctor's office and numerous friends also received her delicious baked gifts. Celina was a master seamstress there was nothing she couldn't sew or mend, she made and gifted each of her granddaughters Raggedy Ann dolls with love sewn into every stich. Celina is survived by Spouse of nearly 66 years Gonzalo Flores, her children Yolanda Munoz (Joe), Gonzalo Jr, (Vivian), Terri Bullard, Benny (Martha), Olga Phillips, Tina Lara (Rob). Celina is survived by 16 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild, 1 niece and 6 nephews. She is predeceased by her youngest son Rene, his spouse Rosemary, Brother Luis Apodaca, her mother Catarina Apodaca, grandparents Antonio and Josephina Apodaca. Her mother and father-in- Law, Jesus and Carmen Flores. Serving as pallbearers will be her grandsons Marco and Gilbert Munoz, Ivan Flores, Julian Phillips, Alexander Bullard and great grandsons Phillip and Fabien Bailon Rosary followed by mass will be held on October 6, 2023, at 10:30 am at Santa Rosa de Lima Church, 5035 Holman Road LC, NM 88011. Burial will follow at San Albino Cemetery 3120 Calle de Guadalupe.