On Monday, November 18, 2024, Lupe Velasco Dizo of San Diego, California, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her family after a very private and brief battle with metastatic ovarian cancer.
Lupe was born on April 10, 1945, in Pozorrubio in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines to Gonzalo Enriquez Velasco and Nieves (née Venezuela) Velasco. Lupe had seven brothers and five sisters. Lupe was the fourth eldest child of 13 children.
Lupe received her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Saint Louis University in Baguio City, Philippines in 1965. She taught various subjects at Divine Word Academy of Dagupan. Lupe truly enjoyed teaching, especially the relationship building aspect with both her students as well as her fellow teachers.
During her time teaching, a mutual friend helped Lupe find a “pen pal” from the United States Navy, a sailor, to add to her hobbies. She was excited to have a new interest, and after several letter exchanges, she finally agreed to meet her pen pal, Vince, for the first time in person. While he was on military leave, Vince met up with Lupe in the Philippines, and the rest was history. On December 27, 1968, Lupe married the love of her life, Vince. In 1969, she immigrated to the United States to begin her new life with her husband.
Lupe’s passion for creativity and art was most apparent in her collections in and around her home. She loved displaying photographs. She was an avid curator of all things Chinoiserie. She loved gardening, especially flowers. She loved to decorate, create collages, and accessorize. She was very much into fashion. And the hats… Oh, the hats! It didn’t matter the occasion, she would wear a hat for it!
Most of all, Lupe loved being a grandmother. Her face would light up at the mention of her grandchildren. She was always very proud to hear of their accomplishments. Her bragging game was very strong!
Lupe is survived by her husband of 56 years, Vincent Madayag Dizo, Jr., her son Vincent Carl Dizo, her daughter Michelle Dizo Vargas, her grandsons Justin Dizo, Zachary Dizo, and Anthony Dizo, her granddaughters Amber Timmer and Pearl Timmer, her great grandson Mason Dizo, her great granddaughter Rosalie Dizo, and her many extended family members. She is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Orlando Venezuela Velasco, and her sister Aida Velasco De Guia.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 17th from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at El Cajon Mortuary, 684 S Mollison Avenue, El Cajon, CA 92020.
Requiem mass will be held on Wednesday, December 18th at 11:00 AM at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 15546 Pomerado Road, Poway, CA 92064.
Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 18th promptly at 1:15 PM at Miramar National Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Drive, San Diego, CA 92122.
