Judith Dean (Chalfant) Flores

Judith was born ‘Judith Elaine Chalfant’ in St. Louis, Missouri, on August 3, 1955, to Dean Rex Chalfant
and Anita Paula (Finke) Chalfant. After battling numerous long-term health issues and suffering two
strokes in two weeks, Judi died on November 3, 2022. She was surrounded by her husband and two
daughters at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Judi is survived by her husband – Jose Aurelio Flores; her five siblings – Carolyn (Fletch) Simpson, Barb
Thomas, Joyce (Jerry) Wright, Becky Latimer, and Bill Chalfant; her two daughters – Kati (David) Morris
and Cara (Evan) Hyndman; two beloved grandchildren – a grandson, August, and granddaughter, Ellis;
and 12 nieces and nephews that she dearly loved. Judi was preceded in death by her parents – Dean and
Anita Chalfant; and brothers-in-law Ron Latimer and Doug Thomas.

After spending her early years in Litchfield, Nashville, and Somonauk, Illinois, Judi spent most of her
childhood living in Sandwich, Illinois. She attended Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois,
for three semesters before obtaining her cosmetology license. She worked as a hairdresser at the Gilded
Cage, across from Olivet’s campus, and rode a scooter to work most days.

During her time at Olivet, Judi began dating Raymond Dale Dafoe, Jr. and, after dating most of the next
four years, they were married on May 31, 1977, at College Church of the Nazarene in Bourbonnais,
Illinois. Judi and Dale moved to Vicksburg, Michigan in the fall of 1982 and lived in a home at Indian Lake
Nazarene Camp.

In June 1983, they welcomed their first daughter, Kati, into the world, followed shortly after by their
second daughter, Cara, in February 1985. When the girls were young, Judi and Dale built a home on the
next street and moved in during the summer of 1988. That same summer, together with friends Dale
and Laurie Oswalt of Bourbonnais, Illinois, they purchased a small cottage down the street on Indian
Lake. Both being school teachers, Dale and Laurie moved in each summer with their son, Brian, who was
the same age as Kati, and the two families shared their summer days on the lake, living the good life.
Countless hours were spent swimming, boating, skiing, and swimming some more. “Don’t break
stride...”

When her daughters entered middle school, Judi went back to school and graduated from Spring Arbor
University with a Bachelor of Arts in Family Life Education in 1998, and completed a Master of Arts in
Counseling Psychology in 2001, in hopes of opening her own counseling practice one day.
When her marriage to Dale ended, Judi married Steven Heystek in July 2009. She became an instant
grandmother to a baby boy, Cameron, soon followed by a baby girl, Hannah; and she cherished her time
during weekly visits and frequent sleepovers. Her first of many years as a grandmother were full of fun.
Judi and Steven’s marriage later ended in 2016.

After several years working as a therapist at Pine Rest Christian Clinic in Kalamazoo, Judi’s long-time
dream became a reality when she opened Alpha Counseling and Testing in 2010. She counseled
children, adults, and families; facilitated group therapy sessions on a variety of topics; and offered
testing for intelligence and behavioral diagnoses including ADHD.

Judi’s family expanded by two sons-in-law, adding much energy and laughter to their gatherings. Her
oldest daughter, Kati, married David Morris on March 31, 2012, in Indianapolis, IN. Her youngest
daughter, Cara, married Evan Hyndman on April 23, 2016, in Denver, Colorado. Judi was overjoyed to
become a grandmother again, this time by the birth of Cara’s first child – a son named August in December 2017,
and then a daughter named Ellis born in September 2019. Judi’s family was very
important to her. Her daughters and their families were ever on her mind and she was always eager to
tell all who would listen about her grandchildren, sharing stories and pictures galore.

When her health began to fail a few short years after opening her counseling practice, Judi closed her
business and returned to counseling at Pine Rest. She continued leading workshops and facilitating
groups, including running a weekly grief support group with friend and colleague Bill Brady at Westwood
United Methodist Church, where they attended.

In July 2016, she received the gift of life via a kidney transplant at University of Michigan Medical Center
in Ann Arbor, Michigan. More recently, during a short trip in May 2022 with her daughters in Colorado,
Judi was admitted to UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital where it was discovered that she had infection and
fluid build-up throughout her chest and around her lungs. Judi spent a week there and received
treatment for an additional four weeks at UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies. She finally returned
home to Kalamazoo in the last few days of June 2022.

After meeting (Jose) Aurelio Flores in a Sunday school class at Westwood UMC in 2016 and spending
time together over the next several years, the two were married on July 4, 2022, in a community garden
near their home. By no surprise, the garden was created by Judi with the help of many friends and
neighbors.

Judi had many gifts and talents. She was talented in sewing, quilting, wood crafts, refinishing furniture,
and writing poems for family members for special occasions like birthdays, graduations, and weddings.
Judi was the self-appointed “director of fun” and hosted many events in her communities over the
years, including at Indian Lake Nazarene Camp, her block of friends on Stolk Drive, and her final home at
Country Acres Village. Judi could talk people into doing things that were well outside their comfort
zone. Singing in talent shows, appearing in parades, dressing up in costumes and crazy hats – usually all
furnished from her persona and vast collection. One of her favorite things was dressing in disguise to
meet someone at the airport or for a day at the beach. She found such joy in causing a bit of harmless
chaos and confusion. Wherever Judi went, there was adventure to be found.

Her life was lived to the fullest – every moment full of fun, friendship, and faith. Judi dedicated her life
to Jesus Christ and serving and loving people. As a member of the Blessed Prayer Sisters, a group of
women who meet weekly to pray for the needs of those around them, Judi leaves an empty chair that
will be difficult to fill. Her insights into faith issues were always appreciated. Her church family at
Westwood UMC feel the loss of her consistent positivity and cheerfulness. Judi’s smile certainly lit up a
room.
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MEMORIAL SERVICE INFORMATION
Family and friends will gather on Saturday, January 28, 2023, at Westwood United Methodist Church
(538 Nichols Road Kalamazoo) to celebrate the life and legacy of Judith Dean Flores. Visitation will be at 10 a.m., followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. A lunch reception at 12 p.m. will be provided and all
are welcome to attend. We encourage guests to wear colorful clothing, silly hats, or costumes as a way
of honoring Judi’s memory. The memorial service will be live-streamed on the Westwood UMC website
and the church’s Facebook page, and the recording will be posted on both sites.

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