Jamie Flores

FLORES, Jamie Lee (Christ)
Our sweet girl Jamie Lee has left us much too soon.  She passed away March 29, 2012 in Palmdale, Calif.  Jamie Lee Christ was born on June 17th 1980, in Panorama City, California.  Her arrival completed the family of Joni Lee (Timperio) Christ and Michael Steven Christ, and big sister Jennifer. The family lived in North Hollywood, followed by Acton and then Palmdale.  All of these places bring such warm memories – In North Holly wood, where she lived until she was 2, she spent happy days hanging in the doorway in her jumper, riding the vacuum cleaner, and taking walks with Mommy to her big sister’s school.  Mom and sister’s baths were always an open invitation for her to jump right in, if she wasn’t already floating around the pool. She loved pushing the dishwasher buttons, but a pair of rubber gloves in the doorway made sure the dishwasher got some rest and kept her out of danger zones.  Jamie looked forward to Friday errands and shopping with Mom, Aunt Joyce, Grandma C. and Jenni, which included lunch at Schaeber’s cafeteria. The weekend was spent seeing Grandma V. and Papa and Mom’s family, followed by more time with the Christ family.  The move to Acton brought new adventures, but family time remained central. Moving up the 14 freeway brought a new term into Jamie’s life  - going “down below” to Grandma C’s house in the San Fernando valley for weekly play time with aunts, uncles and cousins. Spaghetti dinners and playing in the backroom were part of a normal weekend. In her new home, Jamie found a utopia in dirt and hills and high dessert creatures. When the Acton Lake sprouted up in the front yard, she created a tadpole conservatory of coffee cans across the entire porch, skipped rocks and gained some stitches playing rough and tumble in the yard.  A couple years later, the family moved further North to Palmdale where Jamie would develop into a beautiful young girl. Her favorite attire now graduated to sweats and jelly shoes and flip flops. Jamie loved to watch Inspector Gadget, sing the Spider Man song, and loved the neighbor’s “clapping shoes” (heels – as we all know, Jamie would create quite a collection of beloved heels later on). The neighborhood was a big family during these years – she was welcome in any home, and all of the neighbors told Mom what a well-behaved and polite little girl she was.  Jamie loved to help with the laundry, and it was always nice when a new litter of kittens were born – new babies for her to wrap up and put in her shopping carts and strollers, regardless of how many scratches she got. Her destiny as a wife and Mama was very clear. This is what she wanted to be from early on.  Jamie’s childhood was full of simple pleasures – family gatherings, playing outside until the streetlights came on, vacations in the High Sierra’s. It was a foundation built on love and enjoying every single moment that she carried with her into her next phase of life – wife and mama.  Her last couple years brought many changes. Among the happiest, the birth of a treasured niece Sayde. Jamie became Gigi at this time, a role that she relished in and that brought her so many times of joy. Jenny would lean on her little sister for much of her support in the early years, and Gigi was always there at the ready. The bond between the three grew deep. When asked who knew her the best for the longest, Sayde had no choice but to reply with two names: My mom and my Geeg.  Although both from Palmdale, Jamie reconnected with Manny Flores in Thousand Oaks in 1998. With Manny, Jamie found a partner and best friend and together they started their own family. After marrying, Manuel James (Mini Manny) was born August 11th 1999. Jamie fell instantly in love with her new son, followed soon after by another son, Andrew Phillip.  Jamie and Manny revolved every moment around their precious boys. Jamie immersed herself in her role as a Mama, and it showed all of the time. In the early years the boys could rarely be found in anything but matching clothes. She carefully worked out every detail to ensure that each milestone was celebrated and memorable, and she succeeded a million times over.  Each boy knew that their birthday was going to bring a cake frosting mask, courtesy of Mama. Manny and Jamie partnered together to make each holiday more magical than the last. When Daddy was on the filed coaching, Jamie was on the sidelines cheering them on or keeping score. Family trips to build the happiest and strongest of memories were always a priority – nothing made Jamie happier than building this family life she had always wanted.  Many loved ones have left before her, even her grandfather Bill that she wasn't able to meet; but none missed as dearly as her father, Mike Christ. Jamie was at his side when he left this earth two and a half years ago, and she never stopped grieving this immense loss.  Jamie is survived by many friends, and such a large family who loved her - all of her aunts and uncles and cousins, an extended step-family; her grandparents Nick and Louise, and grandmothers Joyce and Janet. So many loved her, and she loved so many back.  There are those that she built every detail of her daily life around: her mother and best friend, Joni, stepfather, Henry, big sister, Jenny, brother-in-law, Jim, little brother, Kyle, mother-in-law, Rosa, father-in-law, Manuel, sister-in-law, Melina, brother-in-law, Miguel, sister-in-law, Rochelle.  Also, Manny’s little sister, who became the little sister she never had, Melissa. With Melissa came Chris, another family extension for Jamie to love.  Jamie’s niece and nephews, who she loved, and cared for like her very own: Sayde, who never called her Aunt or Jamie but decided instead that she was to be her, Gigi. Her extra boys that she loved to keep as long as she could: James, Mikey, Joey and Noah.  And then there is the center of her universe; her three boys.  Her husband Manny, who loves the way she loved –passionate and deep and unfiltered. She was his “James” for fourteen years, and together they took on life, rain or shine. Manny was her rock many times, especially when her Dad passed.  They have two extraordinary sons, Manny and Andrew, who made her incredibly proud. She was so grateful for these two remarkable boys, and they were always more than her sons – they were her allies, her friends. The bond shared between this Mama and her sons was built on love and laughter and friendship that are embedded in their hearts forever.  Jamie and her three boys…it didn’t matter what she was doing or where she was, as long as it was with her boys. Mama Flores loved to be at the baseball field, cheering them on. Watching movies, celebrating birthdays, playing with puppies – just as long as they were there, she was happy.  Please visit Jamie’s memory and leave yours as well at www.memorialwebsites.legacy.com/jamieleeflores.  A viewing will be held from 1 - 2:30pm, following a funeral service at 2:30pm both on Saturday, April 7, 2012 at Chapel of the Valley Mortuary, Palmdale Directors.  A gathering open to all, will immediately follow the service at the home of Manuel and Rosa Flores  38256 Wildrose Street, Palmdale, CA 93550.
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