Rosa "Rosie" Velasquez Gonzales

March 6, 1938 – December 2, 2022

Rosa “Rosie” Velasquez Gonzales, 84 of Austin, TX passed away peacefully on Friday, December 2, 2022. A lifelong Austinite, she was born to Roy & Elisa Velasquez on March 6, 1938. Rosie was one of eleven children born into the Velasquez family, which has deep roots in the East Austin community.

Rosie married her husband, Aurelio Earl Gonzales in 1968 and together they raised four children and two grandchildren. Together, they reinforced the importance of education, hard work and self-reliance.

Rosie was a computer clerk at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for over 38 years. She was very proud to serve U.S. Veterans. Rosie was an extremely tenacious and dedicated government employee and received several service awards throughout her career. At one point, she was the only woman in a mostly male group of employees who were picked for promotion at the Department of Veterans Affairs. She made several life-long friends at her workplace and left a lasting impression on those who worked with her.

Rosie’s favorite time of the year was Christmas. She would devote her time in December to making the best homemade tamales, practically turning her home kitchen into a tamale factory. Rosie had tamale customers all over Central Texas and no order was ever too large. She always ensured that folks could enjoy her fresh homemade tamales. Her other priority during the holiday season was to ensure that every child in her family and extended family received a toy on Christmas Day. Needless to say, there was a lot of gift-wrapping during the holidays in her home.

After her diagnosis with Alzheimer’s and dementia in 2009, Rosie’s family was fortunate to be referred to an extremely talented, loving, and skilled caretaker, Sylvia Diaz. Sylvia is an angel on Earth and always ensured that Rosie had the best possible care and always felt loved, day in and day out. Rosie’s loved ones are eternally grateful to Sylvia for her dedicated care and for loving Rosie like her own family.

Rosie is preceded in death by her parents Roy Velasquez, Sr. & Elisa Velasquez, her husband Aurelio Earl Gonzales, daughter Connie Velasquez Montalvo, sisters Clara Castillo, Mary Estrada and Esther Torres.

Rosie is survived by granddaughters Claudia Rodriquez (Adrian), Nicole Morales Costilla (Eddie), great-grandsons Vincent DePaz and Adrian Rodriquez, Jr., sisters Carmen Campos (Manuel), Annabelle Vallejo, brothers Roy Velasquez, Jr., Gilbert Velasquez (Doris), Carlos Velasquez (Irene), Richard Velasquez, Robert Velasquez (Irene), and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A visitation for Rosie will be held Monday, December 12, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Weed Corley Fish Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, 2620 South Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78704. A recitation of the holy rosary will occur Monday, December 12, 2022 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, 2620 South Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78704. A committal service will occur Tuesday, December 13, 2022 from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM at Assumption Cemetery, 3650 South IH 35, Austin, TX 78704. A mass of christian burial will occur Tuesday, December 13, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 1206 East 9th, Austin, TX 78702.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.wcfishsouth.com for the Gonzales family.