Flora was born in Los Angeles on a beautiful, sunny day to Frank and Ida Espinosa, the youngest of three children with an older brother and sister. She attended parochial elementary schools and graduated from Garfield High School. Her father passed away when she was only a child, but her mother and siblings persevered and eventually moved to Porterville, CA after high school. She attended Porterville Junior College and there met the love of her life, Bernard Eaton Dearden. Bernie and Flo made an adorable couple and soon fell in love and were married on September 10th, 1955. Bernie had served two tours of duty in the Korean War and had returned to college prior to joining the California Highway Patrol. Flora and Bernie moved back to Los Angeles where Bernie worked as a traffic officer for the CHP in the greater Los Angeles area. During that time, Flo received her cosmetologist license and began styling hair for many of the elite Los Angeles women. Her career was interrupted by the birth of their first son Timothy Eaton Dearden in Los Angeles. It was then that she knew her true calling was raising her family. With family in mind, she and Bernie had an opportunity to move back to Porterville where Bernie joined the Porterville CHP force. They purchased a new house on Western Street and made it a home. A few years later, their second son, Christopher was born. Flo spent her time making the house a home, always creative and always making excellent meals, and instilling in her children the value of a good education. She was our room mother in school, our Den Mother in Cub Scouts and always there to cheer us on with any pursuit we had, be it band practice, barn theater plays in the summer, high school football, basketball, track and tennis or just supporting us by driving us to our summer jobs. She excelled at all her creative pursuits including cake decorating, art in multiple media including watercolors, oil and charcoal paintings, sewing, knitting, needlepoint and stained-glass art. After her boys graduated from Porterville High School and went to college, Flo went back to school and completed her AA degree at Porterville College. In addition to traveling around the world with Bernie, she then started a business in Therapeutic Massage and continued painting and participating in the Porterville Art Association as well as the Visalia Art Association. She was active in St. Anne’s Catholic Church Parish, Daughters of the Nile, the Eagles Club and VFW of Porterville. She was intelligent, charismatic, vivacious and always enjoyed life. Dementia robbed her of some, but not all these amazing traits. We loved our Mom and owe all we are to her kindness, love, nurturing character and indomitable spirit. She will be sorely missed. Flo was predeceased by her husband, Bernie Dearden of almost 40 years, and is survived by her children Timothy (Maureen) Dearden of Torrance, CA and Christopher (Paige) Dearden of Napa, CA and four grandchildren: Sean, Kevin, Sam and Adelyn and many Nieces and Nephews. The family would like to thank Hospice of Tulare County (Cheryl) and the staff at Quail Park Memory Care in Visalia. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Tulare County Hospice or the Alzheimer’s Foundation. Interment ceremonies will be private due to Covid and a celebration of life will be scheduled for a later date.
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