On Valentine’s Day, Marie Viola Velasquez, as the sun set on February 14, 2020, Sailed Home on a River of Love and Tears “How fitting is God’s Timing”. Marie was born in South Bend, WA on June 6, 1939 and graduated from “This Life”.
Marie loved caring for children, not just her own, but all children. Marie’s passion for caregiving led her to a career which spanned decades with KinderCare in Phoenix. To Marie’s extreme joy and delight, she worked in The Baby Room. Marie was a natural nurturer and loved all babies. Marie would say it was, “Her Best Job – Ever! In her later years at KinderCare, Marie had the good fortune of nurturing children through her cooking. She was always an excellent and wonderful cook! In her final days at the Hospice of The Valley – Thunderbird, Marie was surrounded by the love of her three sons, Joel “Joey”, James “Jimmy” (Tina), and Mark, her sister Patty, Melody “Mel”, her 9 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
God blessed us by allowing us to love and be loved by Marie.
RIP ALWAYS Mom!!!, A.K.A Nana, and “Old Woman.”
Your Eternal Loving family!!!
A Visitation will be held on Friday, February 28, 2020 from 10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M. with a Memorial Service at 11:00 A.M. at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. Condolences may be expressed at www.whitneymurphyfuneralhome.com
Katrina Yamazaki
To my cousins Joey, Jimmy and Mark. I send you my deepest condolences. My Tía Marie was just the absolute sweetest woman on this earth. My fond memories of hanging out at the house in Garfield are the best. The kindness and compassion she naturally had, one can clearly see, was passed on to each of you.
May her legacy live on through each of you. I pray you find comfort in the memories and knowing she is resting comfortably in the arms of the Lord. God bless you guys. Love you.
Kalli Tembelis
Marky Mark I am SOO beyond saddened by your moms passing. I send my loving thoughts and prayers to you and the family.
Dear Marie,
I have been blessed to have known you. Your kindness and selflessness extended to those of us whom you welcomed as your family at large. You will deeply missed and always be thought of with great affection and love. May you rest gently knowing that you left this place better and that your spirit continues on in the loving hearts of the boys you raised to become good and kind men. The world is better because you existed.
Love,
Kalli
Rita Velasquez
Joey Jimmy Mark my deepest condolences she was such a loving person and she will be deeply missed may she now RIP
Marc
MarK, I am so sorry for your loss
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Im sad ive never met Marie ….
Be her best legacy
MarC
Liz Manuel
So sorry for your loss. My prayers are with your family. Always enjoyed my time with Ms. Marie.
Tammi Arnold Fortaleza
So sad to read this today. I had the pleasure of working with Marie at Kindercare for many years. She was so wonderful with the babies and awesome in the kitchen .So many memories of her and our Kindercare families. My condolences to her family.
Kathleen Gates
I am so sorry for your loss. Marie was a beautiful person. She worked for me for ten years when I was the director of Kindercare. She was an amazing person always willing to pitch I’m where she was needed with a smile and a chuckle. She loved and cared for my son Tim in the infant room who is now 29. I still hang her handmade ornaments on my Xmas tree each year. I know she’s in heaven now. Love you Marie❤️
Victoria LaMotte
So sad to read this, I worked with Marie in the baby room at KinderCare for years. Marie taught me how to take care of babies and even myself! She was the sweetest even when she was stern with us girls. You will be missed sweet Ms. Marie ❤️ Sending condolences and prayers to her family who she loved to brag about always!
Whitney & Murphy
To Marie With Much Love, From Your Four “Pacific North West Siblings”: Inez (Pudgy) Hofmann, Michael & Patty Black & Susan Powers.
Marie, you’ve always said “We Are Your Sisters & Brother – We Are Not Half Sisters & Brother” – Thank God For Your Wisdom, Sister Marie 🙂
You Saved Every Card & Letter Sent From Us, Treasured Calls From Each Of Us, As We Did Yours.Wow, “We Were Certainly Close !”We Laughed Often About Our Shared Traits. We Loved Laughing With You, Dear Sister Marie. Our In-Person Visits, Were Filled With Stories Of Earlier Days. Memories Of Our Mom & Dad (Rocky) & The Fun Camping Trips We Took During Your Summer Visits.
Having Graduated From High School, You moved To AZ ln 1957, For Health Reasons. That Same Year, The Rest Of Us Were Kids @5, 7, 10 & 14 Years Of Age. Who Could Predict That You Would Be Gone From Our Lives, & We From Yours, Until We Were Grown Ups With Families Of Our Own. How We Missed You. We Didn’t Get To Know Your Kids & You Never Got To Know Ours.
Fortunately, We Met For A Sibling Reunion (Thank You Mom) ln The 1980’s. Ever Since Then, We Took Trips Together. WOW, What A Blessing For All Of Us, Our Birth Mom lncluded.Very Sweet Indeed!
We Will Miss You & Love You Always,
Inez, Michael, Patty & Sue
Melody
Well it’s been months since I have last seen Marie.. Not to mention names but this comment had been shared with me by one of Marie’s sons, actually it was a question someone had asked him ..
Granted it is awkward to speak to someone about a loved one shortly after their passing…and people fumble for words to say but this one blew me away..
The person asked her son if he was starting to get over it?
Get over it???
I loved Marie dearly, I considered her family, I only had the pleasure of knowing her for 16 years… I wish there had been more time shared.. although I am missing her deeply I do not pretend to know the pain that Mark, Jim, and Joey are experiencing… this was their Mama!
The person that truly loved them unconditionally and was so proud of all three of her sons…. a little bit of us dies that day with the passing of someone we love… time does not heal all wounds.
Because Marie was such a sweet and loving lady she left each of us with beautiful memories, they were and still are great gifts of her love and devotion to those she loved which I will never forget those given to me.
She would sit and share pictures and stories of glimpses of her life…her children’s lives, her grandbabies..
She took her time to show me as well as others she loved how to cook dishes she treasured, recipes she only shared with those who held a place in her heart… because they were also special to her, recipes her mother-in-law had shared with her welcoming her into her family as a daughter.
Marie realized the value of love of family ..and always cherished it..she never took kindness or family for granted.
She didn’t have a huge circle of family and friends but if you were in that circle you knew that you had someone special in your life… someone that was loyal, and always had your back…she didn’t throw the L word out as a generic greeting as many people do…her love was always genuine.
I could keep rambling on but there will never be enough words to convey how much love and respect I felt for this beautiful strong lady…and Mark, Jim, and Joey I offer my deepest condolences.
Happy Mother’s day in heaven Marie♥️
Love and miss you