Sally Velez

Sally Velez passed away on August 5, 2025, at her home in Tampa with her family and friends by her side. She was 91 years old. Sally went home to God after navigating the challenges of dementia for over a decade. Known as the “Colora”, she was born on the island of Puerto Rico in the rural municipality of Yauco. She loved to have fun, help others and was totally devoted to her family and friends.

Sally was born Celenia Rivera in 1933, to Rafael Rivera and Maria Cruz Rivera, the third of four children they shared. She moved to New York City on her own as an early teen to build a life for herself. She initially lived in Manhattan where she worked as a seamstress until moving in with family friends to attend high school. She soon met her husband Jimmy Velez of Bronx, NY, to whom she was married for over 60 years.

Sally and Jimmy moved from the Bronx back to Puerto Rico in 1962 where she raised their two children, David and Gina. Sally also pursued her interest to become a beautician, opening her home hair salon in Bayamon and then Alturas de Santa Maria. Sally and Jimmy left the island in 1989 to enjoy their retirement in Miami, Florida.

Sally was an avid tennis player, an incredible cook and party host, a frequent shopper at Macy's department store, and a doting caregiver for the greatest joys of her life - her grandchildren. She enjoyed entertaining friends, maintaining a beautiful home, shopping, gardening, and traveling; she loved to dance to Latin music and played the penny slots at the casino for fun. She always had a song in her heart, and even when her illness robbed her of so many memories, she could still recall the lyrics to many of her favorite songs.

Sally is predeceased by her parents, her siblings Wilfredo Rivera, Rilen Galarza, and Oscar Rivera, and her loving husband Jimmy. She is survived by her younger sister Aida Mercado, as well as her two beloved children David (Bettina) and Gina (Matthew), her six grandchildren David Jr, Marisa (Erick), Rebecca (Michael), Veronica (Kevin), Kelly, and Nico, and her three great grandchildren Nathan, Victoria, and Declan.

Affectionately known as Tata because she never felt old enough to be an abuela, her grandchildren will carry countless joyful memories in their hearts from their time together. Sally will be fondly remembered by all for her delicious cooking, her infectious laugh, and her vibrant personality.

Since the passing of her husband James in 2021, she has been living with her son and daughter in law, David and Bettina, in Tampa Florida where she was cared for by Nena. In October of 2024, she was moved into the Inspired Living Memory Care facility in Sun City, Florida.

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Nena for the genuine love she demonstrated while caring for our mother. We’d also like to thank the staff at Inspired Living at Sun City Center for caring and protecting our mother.

A visitation for Sally will be held Sunday, August 17, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Hillsboro Memorial Funeral Home, 2323 West Brandon Blvd, Brandon, FL 33511. A funeral service will occur Monday, August 18, 2025 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM at Nativity Catholic Church, 705 E Brandon Blvd, Brandon, FL 33511.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Sally's honor to the Alzheimer's Association (https://donorservices.alz.org)