Lourdes Nieves Flaim

Lourdes Flaim's viewing will take place here at St. Edward the Confessor on
Wednesday, April 21st from 10-11am. Her funeral will immediately follow at 11am.

Here is the YouTube link, if you are unable to attend in person.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ez7xxq5Qec

Eternal Rest grant to her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen. 

Please keep the Flaim family in your prayers.

Lourdes Nieves Flaim, 75, of Bowie, Maryland, died peacefully on Wednesday, April 14, 2021.  Lourdes was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico on August 5, 1945 to Dr. Juan Nieves and Lydia La Cruz.

During her early childhood, Lourdes lived briefly in Richmond, Virginia with her brother Alexis while her father pursued a specialty in allergy medicine at the Medical College of Virginia.  Upon returning to Puerto Rico, the family located in Hato Rey where she became a devoted and loving older sister to Marcos and Carlos.

At Colegio del Sagrado Corazon, Lourdes became part of a tight knit sisterhood of women that graduated high school together in 1963.  For more than fifty years, she maintained close friendships with her classmates who gathered frequently for reunions and special occasions.    

After high school, Lourdes graduated from college in just three years – she never let her sons forget that -- before moving to Washington, DC in 1967 where she ultimately received her Masters Degree at the Catholic University of America.  During graduate school, she lived with her roommates Leticia Herrans and Carmen Alicia Morales from Puerto Rico and Deborah Padua from Venezuela.  They became lifelong friends.

While studying at Catholic University, Lourdes met Paul Flaim, an Italian immigrant who served in the U.S. Army and worked as a stone mason before graduating with a Masters degree from Johns Hopkins University.  Paul had begun working for the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics before being set up on a date with Lourdes.  Legend has it that after their first date her roommates pressed her for information and Lourdes said, “he’s old!”  Less than one year later they married in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Soon afterwards, Lourdes and Paul settled in Bowie, Maryland where they had two sons, John-Paul and Eric.  Though Paul had plans to build a home, they decided to stay in Bowie after forming countless friendships with neighbors and parishioners from St. Edwards Catholic Church including the Frasers, Shavers, Bickels, Auvilles and many more.

In the summer of 1979, Lourdes began working at the Census Bureau.  She was in charge of the 1990 Census of Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and the Pacific Island areas including Guam and American Samoa.  As the Branch Chief, she also supervised the development of the data products for each area.  She was a revered mentor to her staff.

Beyond work, Lourdes was a dutiful and loving mother, sister, daughter and friend.  Opting to retire early to take care of her husband, Lourdes watched over Paul as his health declined.  Somehow she found the strength to pick up his wheelchair and take it in and out of the car for years so that he could continue to live a fulfilling and enjoyable life.

Upon Paul’s death in 2007, Lourdes dedicated much of her life to caring after her mother Lydia who lived until she passed away in 2015 at the age of 95.  Lourdes faithfully called her mother every night and stayed with her for months at a time in her childhood home. 

More than anything, Lourdes lived for others.  Her mission in life was to take care of people, to stay connected and to bring them joy.  Lourdes was a beloved grandmother to her six grandchildren: Kelsie, Dylan, Isabella, Olivia, Daniel and Sarah.  They loved their “Ita” who showered them with gifts and love.

Lourdes also had an angel in her life, Betty Garcia, who was like a daughter to her.  Betty was her friend, caretaker and by her side taking care of the house and Paul with love.  Betty was dedicated and devoted to Lourdes until she passed away.

Lourdes Nieves Flaim leaves behind a wonderful legacy.  Her dedication to family and friends and her generosity was unparalleled.  Lourdes will be deeply missed by her friends and family from Puerto Rico to Italy but her example will live on through all of us that were fortunate enough to have her in our lives.

In Lieu of flowers please donate to Consolata Missionaries, PO Box 5550, Somerset, New Jersey 08875 or they can send through their website, http://www.consolata.us/