Maria Barbara Rose Velasquez

Maria Barbara Rose Velasquez, 75, died March 12, 2012 at North Colorado Medical Center, Hospice Unit. She was born on December 16, 1936 in Santa Maria, California to Jose Eliseo Velasquez and Louisa Soledad Lucero Velasquez.

Maria is the mother of Suzanne Gonzalez (Joe) of Greeley, Dean Medina (Aurora) of Greeley, David Medina (Juanita) of Windsor, Grandmother of 6 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, sister of Helen Baros of Denver, Marta Wadsworth (Don) of Greeley, Solemna Peters (Ray) of North Carolina, Lorina Ortiz of Greeley, Charlotte Velasquez of California, Mariana Schmahl of Louisville, Eva Swank (Wally) of Denver and brother Louis Velasquez (Pam) of Sioux City, Iowa.

Maria is preceded in death by her brother, Jose Velasquez, Jr., father, Jose Eliseo Velasquez and mother Louisa Soledad Lucero Velasquez.

Maria moved to Colorado where she raised her children and was educated. She received her GED in 1969 from Aims Community College, her Bachelor of Arts, Summa Cum Laude on August 14, 1976 and Master of Art on August 13, 1977 both from UNC. She also completed all the course work for her Doctorate Degree, ED.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from UNC. In 1991, she received the Team Award for Faculty Excellence from Aims. Maria was an Associate Professor at Aims Community College, where she retired after 35 years as Division Chair English as a Second Language (ESL). She served on the Weld County Division of Human Resources Advisory Board from March 7, 1977 thru 1986. From 1986 to 1988 she implemented the side by side ESL Curriculum for the ESL Program. In 1986 she received recognition by the Weld County Commissioners for serving nine years. In 1988, she received a Superior Service Certificate by the Catholic Immigration for volunteer services toward amnesty to undocumented individuals. Maria received the 1995 Awards for Excellence, Hensel Phelp Bell of Distinction for Excellence in teaching selected by the Academic Deans at Aims. She received the Education Award in 1996 from the Hispanic Women of Weld County in recognition and appreciation for her leadership in the education community. On November 7, 2005 Maria received Emeritus Status at Aims. She served as an honorary chair person of the local program committee of the 62nd Annual Meeting of the National Conference of Catholic Charities and the 8th Biennial Meeting of the Association of Ladies of Charity of the United States to express in the name of the whole committee by James V. Casey, Archbishop of Denver and Greeley Chambers of Commerce. Maria lovingly served the Lord at St. Peter’s Catholic Church. She was very fond of her ESL students. She was an accomplished singer and dancer. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, traveling to Truchas and Taos, New Mexico and spending time with her children, grandchildren, family and friends.

Visitation will be 4-6:00 p.m. Thursday at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, followed by Recitation of the Rosary. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Peter’s Catholic Church. Interment Sunset Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, donation can be made In Memory of Maria B. Velasquez in care of Stoddard Funeral Home, 3205 West 28th Street, Greeley, CO 80634