Toledo Free Press

On the quiet evening of March 13th, our beautiful mom, Nichole Marie Flores, passed away in her home, surrounded by her loving family, at peace and ready to embark on her heavenly journey.

Nichole was born on April 24, 1971 in Toledo, OH to her parents, Genie and Jerome. From a young age she had been a part of the Diocese of Toledo, attending St. Pius X and then graduating from St. Ursula Academy, class of 1989. During her senior year of high school she was introduced to her future husband, John David Flores, on a blind date. In her recollection of this story, which she told with a beaming smile, she knew John was the man she was going to marry the moment she saw him. From a young age, Nichole was in tune with her strong intuition and guided by her faith. Per her hopeful prediction, she married John at Rosary Cathedral on July 15, 1995, the hottest day of the year. Their love and devotion to one another was unwavering and undeniable. Together and with the guidance of Christ they raised their two daughters, Isabel and Abigail.

Nichole’s faith and intuition also guided her to a successful career in Catholic education. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from John Carroll University where her love of learning and teaching was solidified. She began her career in education as a 1st grade teacher at Holy Trinity School, an experience she always remembered fondly. Nichole went on to teach 7th and 8th grade at Rosary Cathedral, but soon felt that God was calling her to a new path: to be a principal. To fulfill this calling, she completed her Master’s in Educational Leadership and Administration from Bowling Green State University. Nichole went on to help open Notre Dame Junior Academy where she proudly served as principal for 5 years. Our mom never sought out specific jobs, but rather, she listened eagerly to God’s call, going where she was needed. In 2012, St. Ursula Academy, her alma mater, was in need of a principal. With the guidance of her faith, this is where she landed.

Nichole humbly and passionately served as principal of St. Ursula Academy for the last 12 years. She was an extraordinary leader, an innovative thinker, and an inspiring role model to those around her. Our mom had the beautiful ability of identifying one’s potential beyond anything we could envision for ourselves. With her creative approach to education and leadership, she sought to challenge and motivate her faculty, staff, and students towards personal growth and achievements, lifting them up every step of the way. One of Nichole’s proudest accomplishments was helping to bring The Leadership Program for Girls to SUA, making it the first school in the nation to offer this program. Her dream was to provide an educational experience that would inspire and empower young women to be courageous and innovative leaders, sending them off to make positive waves in the world. The students at SUA were her pride and joy; everything she did was for the girls. Her contribution to Catholic education will continue to be celebrated by her students, faculty, staff, and all who knew her.

Nichole was an incredibly devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend; she wore all of these titles with honor. Her faith and passion shone brightly in every facet of her life. Our mom enjoyed traveling, especially to Europe. Some of her fondest memories come from school trips to France with her SUA girls; her and John cherished their time spent as chaperones. Most recently, they extended their journey to Bressica, Italy, home of St. Angela Merici, foundress of the Ursuline order. Nichole loved the ocean, despite having to purse her lips sealed to avoid the taste of salt water. Sitting by the shore in her big sun hat and taking long walks along the beach searching for seashells were some of her favorite pastimes.

Nichole’s passions extended to her love of Notre Dame Football and all things Fighting Irish. As a dedicated fan, she took great pride in their achievements both on and off the field and continued her enthusiastic support in victory, as well as defeat. They will certainly have a cheerleader up in Heaven.

Our mom relished and celebrated the simple things in life. She enjoyed quiet early mornings sipping freshly brewed coffee out of her beloved Polish pottery mugs, souvenirs from her European adventures. Throughout the day we found our mom solving sudoku puzzles, and if she wasn’t, her sudoku book was always resting on a table nearby, ready to be picked up again. Our mom was a talent in the kitchen, everything she made was delicious and undoubtedly made with love. She especially enjoyed keeping traditions alive by cooking old family recipes. Nichole loved dancing and listening to music, including the three months out of the year she dedicated to Christmas classics. We have fond memories of morning car rides into school with the radio blaring, our mom dancing behind the steering wheel, singing and making up her own lyrics to the songs. Surprisingly, Nichole was also an undercover rockstar who spent hours playing RockBand. We would often find her in the living room, bobbing her head to the music while playing guitar on the expert level. Above all, our mom cherished quality time with loved ones, from taking a family trip to the grocery store to spending an evening on the deck listening to music and laughing with dear friends.

Our mother was a wonder. She viewed the world through a lens of positivity and love, making it a better place for everyone around her. Her infectious smile, contagious laugh, and warm embraces will never be forgotten. To be in her presence was energizing; she inspired all of us to be better people. Nichole’s unwavering devotion to her Catholic faith and listening to God’s call every step of the way allowed her to live out her passions fiercely and with humility. She emulated all of the virtues Christ calls each of us to live by. Throughout her life, she continuously expressed how blessed she was, often remarking that the cross she carried was too small. Our mom leaves us with a beautiful legacy to learn from and live by. She will forever be remembered by her uplifting spirit and the compassion she displayed to all those who knew her.

Surviving are Nichole’s husband, John; daughters, Isabel and Abigail; mother, Genie (John) Operacz-Kheres; sister, Charissa (Joseph) Marconi; step-mother, Sally Operacz; sisters, Madison and Olivia Operacz, and many nieces, nephews, and godchildren.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents: Chester and Stella Operacz; Eugene and Irene Ricker; and her father, Jerome Operacz.

Visitation will be on Sunday, March 24, 2024 from 12 to 6 p.m. at Witzler-Shank-Walker Funeral Home located at 222 E South Boundary St, Perrysburg, OH. A memorial mass will be held on Monday, March 25, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral. Nichole was known for her fun and stylish attire; she was always dressed to impress. Please join us in celebrating our mom’s vibrant approach to life by wearing bright colors to her services.

One of Nichole’s final requests was to establish an endowment for the incredible faculty and staff of St. Ursula Academy, a team she loved and appreciated deeply. Her wish was to continue to support her wonderful teachers and staff in inspiring, challenging, and empowering the young women of SUA for generations to come. In lieu of flowers, we kindly ask that all donations are made to the Nichole Operacz Flores ‘89 Faculty and Staff Compensation Fund. Condolences may be made online to her family at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com.