Maria Ricardina Rubio-Reeves de Flores is remembered as a faithful mother, teacher, and humanitarian who had a tenacity for life. Maria passed away on March 10, 2022, at the young age of 97 in West Jordan, Utah. Maria was known as “Mama Llica” to those who she cherished and loved. She lived a very full and long life.
Maria was born on February 7, 1925, to her parents Adolfo Rubio (Small)-Herrera and Cristina Reeves-Bermúdes in a German-Jewish colony nestled in Monzón, Huánuco, Peru. Maria was the youngest of four siblings Bartolome, Teodosia, and Guillermo. Maria was also treasure by her half-siblings Victor, Moises, Amelia, Gregorio, Leonor and her stepsiblings, namely Foción. She was raised by her uncle Horacio Reeves and grew-up in an all-girl Catholic boarding school “La Inmaculada Concepción” of Huánuco from age 6 to 16 where she was taught the art of crochet and embroidery, etiquette, music, and religious education.
At 27, Maria met and fell in love with Fidel Flores-Rodriguez while visiting the capital of Peru, Lima. In 1955, their daughter Yrma was born. Years to follow, Maria would watch over the family plantation “La Proveedora”, graduate college with a teaching degree, accompany Fidel on merchant business trips, vacation with friends, play basketball and tennis, and enjoy entertaining parties. By the early 1970’s, Maria, Fidel, and Yrma moved to Lima where Maria began her career as a teacher. At one point, Maria was an elementary school principal. She took a passion in advocating for the underprivileged organizing donations and leading marches. Thus, she learned Quechua.
In 1977, Maria and Fidel were baptized in her beloved Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Lima. Maria endeared providing room and board for LDS missionaries for several years. Sometime between 1981-1983, Maria and Fidel served a genealogy LDS mission together. Upon their visit to the U.S. in 1983, Maria and Fidel were sealed in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Maria and Fidel immigrated to the U.S. in 1985 and started their new life with their new family. At about the age of 60, Maria began learning English. Eventually, Maria opened her first daycare and continued to care for her “chiuchis” until age 73.
After her eventual retirement from childcare, she continued to dedicate herself to be a grandmother. She was a student of life, always reading. Her favorite subjects were herbs, science, medicine, history, and religious texts. She loved traveling around with her friends and finding that hidden away antique shop. One of her favorite pastimes was calling up her best friends in Peru and reminisce about the old days. Whenever she would travel back to Peru to visit she would take luggage full of clothes and blankets back to the kids of the streets. Maria’s love language was gift-giving and cooking for others.
Maria is survived by her devoted daughter Yrma Flores-Rubio; her grandchildren Elizabeth Kori Moravec-Flores, Ian Inti Flores-Moravec, and Jennifer Yatiri Moravec-Flores; and trusted confidant, her niece Nelly Herrada Rubio (Peru). Our joy is knowing she is reunited with her family and her Heavenly Father.
