Matilde “Tillie” Velazquez Lowery was called home on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. She was on born Mar 14, 1938, in Seguin, TX to Luisa Medina and Jacinto Luna Velazquez. After losing her parents as a young child, she was raised by her aunt and uncle, Herlinda and Juan Velez in San Angelo, TX. In 1958, Tillie met her love, Jack Lowery, and they were married on Feb. 26, 1960. They had five children, four daughters and a son, who was the “apple of her eye”.
She served as an Air Force wife, supporting her husband as they traveled all around the world. She loved experiencing new cultures and one of her favorite places was being stationed in Rome, NY. When asked what she liked about NY, she’d say she loved the snow, even shoveling it!
Tillie had a true servant’s heart, volunteering and supporting organizations that were important and special to her.
She was a woman of deep faith and a long-time member of the Sacred Heart Cathedral community. Tillie loved music and sang with the Cathedral choir for many years. She was a Cursillista, a member of the Guadalupanas, CCD teacher and RCIA sponsor – giving many years of service to her beloved community. She was a Lay Eucharistic Minister delivering communion to patients who were hospitalized.
Tillie was born to be a caregiver and after a pause in her education to raise her family, she bravely went back to school to get her nursing degree, graduating as Valedictorian of her class. One of her first jobs at Shannon Hospital was in the AIDS Clinic. She also worked on the Oncology unit and 5N, giving loving care to her patients. Tillie was proud of her nursing career and after retiring was active in the Retired Nurses Association. She continued her caregiving as a volunteer with Hospice of San Angelo for many years.
Tillie’s deepest love was her large extended family. She was giving and supportive, always generous with her hugs. She never missed a chance to tell them how much she loved them, and each grandchild, great-grandchild and great-great-grandchild received a baby blanket crocheted with love. She found her deepest joy in spending time with them and all her loved ones knew that Grandma Tillie’s house and arms were always open.
Tillie was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Lowery; her parents Luisa and Jacinto Velasquez and Herlinda and Juan Velez; her sisters, Anita Frausto, Virginia Fuentes, Aurora Velez, Margaret Alonzo, Juanita Gutierrez; brothers, Henry Velez, Gilbert Velez and Pete Velez and one grandchild. She is survived by her daughters, Mary Duryea and husband Keith of San Angelo, Patty Robles and husband Jeff of Maple Grove, MN, Teresa Goode and husband Jim of San Angelo, Margaret Lowery of New Braunfels; son John A. Lowery II and wife Cindy of Buda; sisters Hortence Whittle of San Angelo, Manuela Frausto of Hondo and Mary Lou Rocha of San Angelo. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews that loved their Aunt Tillie.
The family would like to thank the amazing staff at Lyndale Senior Living for providing a fabulous, caring environment where Tillie was “living her best life”, Shannon Medical Center 4S and 5N, the Wound Care Clinic and Home Health Services of Shannon and the staff of Hospice of San Angelo for the gracious and compassionate care provided to our beautiful Tillie.
There will be a rosary and visitation at 7 p.m. Fri, Jul 1, 2022, at Johnson's Funeral Home chapel. Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 10:30 a.m. Sat, Jul 2, 2022 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Burial following at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens. Carrying their Grandmother to her final resting place will be grandsons Taylor Duryea, Bryan Robles, Jason Hardy, Ian Rickard, John Lowery III, Michael Lowery, Alton Logue and great-grandson Cristian Valles. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of San Angelo in her memory.
