Joyce Carlotta Flores

After a short and well fought struggle, Joyce Carlotta Flores, 82, of Napa succumbed to cancer on Friday, November 10, 2017. Joyce was born June 14, 1935 in Brawley, California to Gaspar and Carlotta Savala. As a child & young person, she labored in the fields throughout California alongside her parents and 10 siblings, where she learned the value of a hard day’s work. The Savala family settled in Pinedale, CA, where Joyce was able to pursue her education, receiving a BA from Fresno State University. In 1958 she married Louis Fernando Flores & made their home in Napa . Throughout her life, Joyce was constantly employed, either as a teacher at the junior college; or as a manager, waitress, and bartender at the family restaurant, Jalisco’s; or as volunteer on many Democratic campaigns, registering voters, and working phone banks. She took pride in coordinating the meals for her son-in-law’s Assembly campaign. But it didn’t matter where she was laboring. She still ran the family home, providing delicious fantastic meals & desserts made with beautiful home-grown ingredients; while mentoring & supporting family in their personal endeavors. Joyce was ahead of her time, trying new foods, and recipes; and always open to new ideas. She loved to read novels; enjoyed sharing books with family members; and relished musical theater and gospel music. Joyce was full of energy, never missing her morning walks or water aerobics classes. For 35 years, alongside Louis, Joyce advocated for the rights of farmworkers & supported Louis in the founding & development of California Human Development, a private non-profit that provides opportunities of promoting employment, housing & citizenship to farmworkers and others of low income. There are people who are givers and those who are takers, and Joyce was a giver. Her family was everything to her and she bestowed much love and care on them. Joyce is survived by her husband, Louis; two sons Miguel Flores (Bea) and Luis Flores (Bridget); three daughters Kevin Flores, Kelly Flores-Nixon (Kurtis) and Kimura Flores (Dave); 12 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren with another great-grandchild due to arrive in January 2018 A Funeral Mass will be held at St Thomas Aquinas Church, 2725 Elm Street, Napa on Tuesday, November 21, at 10:30 am. A reception, held at the church, will immediately follow the Mass. A private interment will be held at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon. Memorial donations may be made to the Napa Valley Farmworker Housing – Scholarship Fund c/o Cinco de Mayo Inc, a non-profit 501c3 organization, 1889 Zinfandel Lane, St Helena, CA.

Joyce Carlotta Flores

June 14, 1935 - November 10, 2017

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Joyce Carlotta Flores

June 14, 1935 - November 10, 2017

Obituary Notification

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