Obituary: ​Wilma Velez, 94, Of Merrick

Wilma (Hewel) Velez, 94, has been called to the place of dreams for a family reunion with Jesus, Mom & Dad (Wilma & John), brothers William, Edward, John, sister Marion and friends on Sept. 16. She was born in Nassau County and worked for Doubleday in New York, owned and operated a ceramic craft business in Merrick and Ice Cream shop in Marlborough, New Hampshire.

Wilma was a housewife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother to her six children, 16 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren, and she was also the wife of the late Silvio Velez. Wilma was not one for holding back, and would always tell it like it was. A loving mother, she was so proud of her children knowing they were so good looking, patient and great dancers.

Born in Albertson, Wilma grew up in New York, New Hampshire and Virginia. In her final years in Warrenton and Culpepper, Virginia, she was surrounded by her three girls: Dolores (Tricarico), Beth (Donovan), and Marion (Halleran), and extended family, enjoying a full life. Wilma's best times were with family, Mass at Saint John Catholic Church, traveling to Belair, Maryland to see her son, Arthur and his wife Tricia and family, or Marlborough, New Hampshire to see her son James his wife Sue and family, or Hillsdale, New York to see her son Frank the yodeler and his wife Louise the dancer.

You would see a smile and twinkle in her eyes being with her girls. Be it at a stock car race in Freeport, painting a landscape scene, working in the garden, golfing, watching her grand children grow or discussing the benefits of green beer on Saint Patrick's Day with Eileen Sweningson. Visits and discussion with Dan or Karen always left a glow on her face. Wilma enjoyed making baptism bibs for the newborn babies, crafting Christmas ornaments and towels, playing bingo, walking her dog or working on the yearly Christmas party with friends on Hasting Lane in Warrenton. Wilma did like a good party.

Wilma is survived by her brother Charles Hewell; her children and grand children Dolores (husband Ray Tricarico, children Tina, Ray, Laurie, Patricia); Marion (husband Larry Halleran, daughter Colleen); Elizabeth (husband James Donovan); James (wife Susan, children Heather, Matt, Katie); Arthur (wife Tricia, children Micheal, Kelly, Daniel); and Frank (Louise, children Dan, Ellen, Karen, Debbie).

Photo Courtesy Artie Velez