Catalina Flores Velasquez was born April 30, 1931 in Colorado City, Texas the only child of Eusebia (Alvarado) and Jacinto Flores. She was six years old when the family moved to Shafter where she grew up and attended Shafter elementary schools. As a young lady she worked at Shafter Mercantile as a clerk. On December 23, 1951 Katie and Louis Velasquez were married at St. Therese's Church in Shafter. While Katie and Louis raised their family she worked in the fields and she also worked as a teacher's aide at Richland School. Then in 1970 they opened Louie's Body Shop and worked together running the business until their retirement in 2010. Katie loved to travel including seeing Hawaii and visiting family members living in New York, Texas, Florida and Las Vegas. She was a member of St. Therese's Church. Katie will be remembered for her generosity, giving of herself and her time to others. She was the matriarch of the family who shaped the lives of her children and was a loving influence on the lives of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, always remembering their birthdays. She was a compassionate and understanding listener to all who had the privileged of knowing her. She will be greatly missed by her husband of 60 years, Louis Velasquez of Shafter; children, Cynthia Williams of St. Petersburg, Florida, Thomas Velasquez & wife Cindy of Shafter, Juanita Fortunato and husband Paul of Long Island, New York, Joseph Velasquez of Shafter, Rose Mary McCadney and husband Vic of Las Vegas, Nevada; 21 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son, Louis Michael Velasquez. Holy Rosary will be recited Tuesday, April 10 at 6pm at Peters Funeral Home for Catalina Flores Velasquez, age 80, of Shafter who passed away April 5, 2012 in West Covina. Mass of the Christian Burial will be said Wednesday, April 11 at 10am at St. Therese's Church. Fr. Umana will officiate the service and interment will follow at Shafter Memorial Park. Visitation will be Tuesday, April 10 from 2pm – 8pm at Peters Funeral Home. Please sign Katie's guest book.