Dolores Velazquez Colon

Mrs. Dolores Velazquez Colon, age 82, of Utica, passed away on Friday, January 12, 2007, at the Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare Center with her family by her side. Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico on November 8, 1924, Dolores was the daughter of the late Pedro Velazquez and Margarita Colon. She was raised and educated in Puerto Rico and at one time had been married to Nalciso Sierra. Dolores also knew the blessing of her marriage to Felix Santiago, who passed away in 1972. The family relocated to the Utica area in 1976. As a mother, she dedicated herself to her children and her home. She loved to cook, prepare meals for her family, and always had the ‘coffee on’. Blessed with a wise and sensible personality, one of her treasured virtues was her ability to treat others with respect. Her children appreciated the honor of remembering their mom, especially on Mother’s Day. A gentle-spirited woman, Dolores was deeply devoted to her Lord, and was a communicant of Historic Old St. John’s Church. Dolores is survived by her beloved children and their families: Santia Sierra-Velazquez, Carmen M. Santiago, Felicita Santiago, Vigermina “Tata” and Napoleon Rivera, Isreal Santiago, Venerada “Venny” and Humberto Garcia, Andrea and Felix Roman, Alejandro “Alex” Santiago and Providence Santiago, Rene and Melinda Santiago, and Margarita and Moses Singertan. Always close to her heart was the memory of two sons who preceded her in death. Also surviving are many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Dolores was one of five children, and surviving are two brothers, Raymon Velazquez, and Poldo Velazquez, both of Puerto Rico. In addition, she leaves many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and in-laws. The entire family offers its heartfelt appreciation to Dr. John F. Sperling, Wendy Ken, nurse practitioner at the Hobart Clinic, the staff at the Visiting Nurse Association, and Melinda Santiago, her daughter-in-law, for the great compassion and concern they expressed while caring for Dolores. Visitation will be held on Monday from 4-7 at the Eannace Funeral Home, Inc., 932 South St., corner of Hammond Ave. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Dolores’ Mass of Christian Burial which will be celebrated on Tuesday morning at 9:30 at Historic Old St. John’s Church. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery.

Dolores Velazquez Colon

October 8, 1924 - January 12, 2007