Flora Minneti (94) was born on August 11, 1918 in Magdalena New Mexico to Gumecindo Benavides and Marcelina Benavides Santillanes. Her mother died in the Great Flu Pandemic of 1918 when Flora was 3 months old.
As a young woman, Flora worked for her father, who was the County Clerk in Lemitar, New Mexico. Her typing skill became legendary and when WWII broke out, she joined the US Navy Waves, where her skills were put to use by Naval Intelligence.
At the end of the war, Flora was discharged to San Francisco where she met her future husband, Pete Minneti. Together they had five children, Barbara, J. Michael, Lynea, Rochelle and Marcia. In 1959, while Pete was a principal at Fairmead School, they bought out Riley's Sporting Goods and Pete's Sport Shop was born. Flora ran the store while Pete was at work and all the children helped out. When the store was able to sustain a family of 5, Pete retired from education to become a full-time entrepreneur.
Flora passed away, peacefully, in her sleep in the early morning hours of May 2nd. She was preceded in death by her husband, Pete, who passed away in 1993 and two brothers, Hipolito (Paul) and Saturnino (Benny).
She is survived by all 5 of her children: Barbara Minneti of San Jose CA, J. Michael Minneti and Rochelle Noblett of Madera, Lynea Lattanzio of The Cat House on the Kings in Parlier and Marcia Schnoor of Corvallis, Oregon. She dearly loved all of her grandchildren, Kasey and Calli Schnoor of Bend, Oregon and Garrett and Clint Noblett of Madera.
Flora spent the last 5 years of her life as a resident of Cedar Creek Senior Living, and was fond of saying "They treat me like a Queen!" There she was able to stay in one place as her Alzheimer's progressed and her level of care increased as needed. This was a Godsend so she didn't have to face the trauma of moving again. Optimum Hospice cared for Flora in the last months of her life while she remained in her apartment.
Visitation will be on Monday, May 6, 2013 from 2:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. with a Vigil service beginning at 7:00 P.M. at Jay Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at 1:00 P.M. at St. Joachim Catholic Church in Madera. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery in Madera.
Remembrances may be made to St. Joachim School, 310 North "I" Street, Madera, CA 93637.
Flora Minneti (94) was born on August 11, 1918 in Magdalena New Mexico to Gumecindo Benavides and Marcelina Benavides Santillanes. Her mother died in the Great Flu Pandemic of 1918 when Flora was 3 months old. 
