Isidora Silva

Isidora “Dee” was born December 3, 1932, to Ciria Baca and Miguel Antonio Gomez in Rosa, New Mexico. She was the youngest of 15 children of a farming family in the Arboles-Igancio area. After attending Ignacio High school, she met and married the love of her life, Fred Velasquez, in 1951. Soon after they married Dee and Fred moved to Grand Junction where they raised five children of their own and two nieces and a nephew needing their support and guidance. As a devout Catholic family Dee and Fred felt it important to instill religious and social values in all the children. The value of family ‘Where Life begins and Love never ends’ remains core to those that Dee considered ‘Family.’

Dee extended her family everywhere she went and worked. She found much joy and satisfaction working with special needs persons, providing them guidance and assistance as was seen with her twelve years of work as a head cook at the State Home Regional Center. They all loved her and called her Dee Dee. Later Dee changed her work focus and was a home care provider, she felt this was her true calling. Dee was a born caregiver.

She later married Joe Silva and moved to Carson City, Nevada and then returned to Grand Junction, feeling this was her true home. Dee loved socializing with relatives, friends, and neighbors; doing arts and crafts, playing darts, playing board games, and knitting with friends. These activities allowed her to continue be a social caregiver to others.

Dee is survived by daughters, Doddie Abeyta (John), Durango, CO, and Dr. Norma Velasquez-Bryant (Dan), Reno, NV; sons, Fred Velasquez Jr. (Rosa-Marie), Grand Junction CO, and Mick Velasquez (Kevin), Novato, CA; grandchildren, Brian Henderson (Darcie), Woodland, VA; Brenna Abeyta-Watson (Rob), Durango CO; Michelle Henderson-Aranda (Victor), Weinheim, Germany; Anthony Velasquez (Vivian), Orlando, FL; Robert and Shalana Mason, Farmington, NM; Jessie Moore, Colorado Springs, CO; Destiny Moore, Hollywood, FL; Patty Reed, Colorado Springs, CO, and many beautiful great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by youngest son, Frank Velasquez of Farmington, NM; sister, Maxine Ribera, Denver, CO; Fred Velasquez, Sr., Durango, CO, and Joe Silva, Tustin, CA.

Dee’s funeral Mass will be at St. Joseph’s Wednesday, March 31, at 2:00 p.m. Due to COVID-19, please practice social distancing and masks are always to be worn.