Grace Villarreal Florez

September 28, 1939 - August 9, 2024

Loving mother, sister, grand- and great-grandmother, auntie and friend, Grace Villarreal Florez passed suddenly and peacefully with her family at her side.

Grace was a woman of great distinction, independence and fearless courage, delivered with the Grace that is her namesake.

Grace was born in Cucamonga in San Bernadino County, California, to parents Rose Pearl Valenzuela Villarreal and Seberino Villarreal in 1939. She migrated to Monterey County on the central coast where she worked in the farming industry and began her own family. Grace eventually settled in Modesto’s Central Valley in the late 1960s, expanding her family and working as a homemaker, seasonal cannery (TVG) worker, and business owner, where she selflessly devoted her time and energy to family, friends, and her community.

Grace also loved the ocean, walking the beach and watching the sunsets. She also had many, many hobbies that kept her very busy; she loved to travel, crochet, garden, enjoyed arts and craft-making and always participated in any adventure that she was invited to join. She was most content with caring for her home, still mowing her own lawn at 84 and tending to her backyard garden and trees that she had lovingly had grown for many years.

Grace is survived by her two daughters, Esther Florez (Frank) of Modesto and Christine Medeiros (Dan) of Turlock; her brother, Seberino ”Sonny” Villarreal (Mary) of Ceres; three grandchildren, Andrew Urquidez (Amanda) of Ceres, Michael Borja (Debbie) of Tracy, and Miles Urquidez of Turlock; one great-grandchild, Maverick Urquidez of Ceres; and many nieces, nephews, and “adopted” grandchildren.

Grace was preceded in death by her beloved fiancé Daniel Lee Chase and two sons, Jessy Florez and Robert Florez.

Grace is an irreplaceable force of nature and nurture and will forever be loved and missed.

– Ceres (Calif.) Courier

Wednesday, August 21, 2024