Gertrudis Velez
(November 17, 1925 - June 12, 2019)
Gertrudis Velez, at 93, of Nyack, New York, passed away on Wednesday June 12, 2019. She was born November 17, 1925 and lived in Humacao, Puerto Rico to the late Jacobina Berrios Pagan and Macario Maldonado Hernandez. She was married on July 18, 1953 to the late Army Veteran William Velez-Astacio in Puerto Rico who preceded her in death on July 16, 1995. As a young girl, Gertrudis Velez was raised in the city of Humacao, Puerto Rico and spent her time on her family farm surrounded by loved ones. In 1953 after her marriage to William Velez, she and her spouse moved to start a new life in Brooklyn, New York where she resided until the year 2000. There she became a valued member to the catholic church community and school by participating in many fundraising activities for her Catholic Church, as well as volunteering as a librarian’s assistant, lunch lady, and teacher’s assistant. All while learning how to speak and write in English by taking nightly courses. She was a seamstress by trade and by passion, tirelessly creating the children’s costumes for the school plays, she also worked as a certified babysitter. After her spouse passed away, she moved to Nyack, New York where her daughter, Maria, and grandchildren, Victoria, Adam, and Mildred, lived. It was in Nyack where she remained. Her past-times included but were not limited to attending her grandchildren’s events, participating in events at the Nyack Senior Center and St. Ann’s church, coloring, reading her bible, planting and caring for her flowers, taking strolls and sharing her stories; and in the process, making a variety of blessed memories with her family. She was a devoted Catholic who dedicated her life to visiting the sick and prayed for the deceased.
Gertrudis Velez will be missed by her family; her daughter, Maria Uriarte, and her two sons Carlos Velez and William Velez Sr. As well as her grandchildren; Victoria Uriarte, Mark Uriarte, Giavanni Velez, Mildred Velez and William Velez Jr. As well as her great grandchildren
Her wake will be held on Monday, June 17, 2019 between 4:00-8:00 PM at the Hannemann Funeral Home, located at 88 South Broadway, Nyack, New York 10960. Funeral Services will include: a mass held in her honor on Tuesday morning at 10:00 AM at St. Ann’s Catholic Church located at 16 Jefferson Street, Nyack, NY 10960; a burial will then follow thereafter to arrive by 1:00 PM at Calverton National Cemetery, located in Wading River, NY 11792.
Memorial contributions may be gifted in Gertrudis Velez’s honor to the Nyack Senior Center, located at 90 Depew Ave, Nyack, NY 10960.