Aurelia Flexen died March 6, 2008, at Whidbey General Hospital after a short illness. She was born July 27, 1916, in Mexico to Doroteo and Esther Haro.

In 1935 Aurelia met Juan Flexen in El Paso, Texas. They were married in July of that year. In 1940, the family moved to Southern California, where they lived for several years before moving to Redwood City. In 1976, 16 years after the loss of her husband, she moved to Whidbey Island and stayed until 1990, when she returned to Newark, Calif. In 1999, Aurelia’s health was on the decline and she returned to Whidbey to be close to her daughter.

Family was most important to Aurelia, her main focus was on making a home for her children. She had many interests in her life, but aside from family, gardening had to top the list. She also enjoyed knitting, crocheting and other needlework.

Mrs. Flexen is survived by daughters Teresa Hubner with husband Don of Oak Harbor, Esther Flexen of Santa Clara, Calif., Celina Mitchell of Newark, Calif., and sons Xavier Flexen with wife Julia of Newark, Calif., and John Flexen with wife Jane of Foresthill, Calif. She also leaves 12 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Juan in 1960 and one grandson, Matthew Hubner in 2006.

A funeral Mass for Mrs. Flexen will take place at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Oak Harbor on Wednesday, March 12, at 10 a.m., with Father Jerry Kienzel officiating.