Josefina “Josie” Velazquez, age 84, of San Antonio, Texas, passed away on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Josie was born in Laredo, Texas, to Carmen and Berardo Velazquez. Before Josie started school, her family moved from Laredo, Texas, to San Antonio, Texas. Once in San Antonio, she attended St. John Bosco and graduated high school from Saint Theresa Academy as her class valedictorian. After high school, Josie attended Durham’s Business College in San Antonio. Over the years, Josie worked for the State of Texas, the Archdiocese of San Antonio, and most recently as a Receptionist at the Oblate School of Theology.
Josie had a humble and beautiful childhood. She was raised by a loving and faith-filled catholic family; faith was demonstrated in action by both her parents. One of her favorite pastimes as a young adult was dancing. At twenty-two, Josie met her future husband, Antonio “Tony” Velazquez, while traveling with her parents to Mexico on the Greyhound bus. A year later, they married in San Antonio and shortly after moved to Chicago, Illinois. In Chicago, Josie gave birth to their oldest son, Fr. Carlos; however, due to experiencing a harsh winter, they eventually moved back to San Antonio. Josie and Tony completed their family with the births of ileana, Liz, and Juan. Josie and Tony were elegant dance partners for forty-six years.
Josie often told her children, “They were her tesoros,” her treasures. The custom of blessing her children after a daily visit or bidding them farewell before a vacation and asking them to do the same to her was a simple yet powerful gesture she learned from her parents. Josie also grew up with her grandparents and was blessed by their prayers, and she continued to pray it forward.
Josie’s vocation was to be a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother. Josie’s primary mission in life was to keep her family safe from all harm and close-knit. She reminded her family of important dates, like birthdays, anniversaries, funerals, graduations, out-of-town visitors, etc. Many gatherings were celebrated with her mole enchiladas or pot roast.
Besides travels within the United States, Josie was also able to visit Mexico, Rome, Spain, France, and Hawaii. Josie enjoyed reading the newspaper and looking at all types of news, from entertainment to world news, and kept the family updated on current events. She loved all types of music, from the Bee Gees to Tejano and everything in between. She was fortunate to be able to attend Spanish artist concerts such as Rocio Durcal, Roberto Carlos, and Vicky Carr, to name a few. The last concert she attended was with her youngest, Juan, when he accompanied her to see Juan Gabriel.
Josie was a loving and active grandmother who cared for her grandchildren and attended school awards, concerts, recitals, plays, games, etc. She was blessed to have met her seven great-grandchildren.
While Josie, by her true nature, was an introvert, she had some very special friends and relationships throughout her life. Most have already left this earth; we are happy to know she is reunited with them and her family.
She is preceded in death by both of her parents and her husband of 46 years, Antonio Velazquez. She is survived by her four children: Father Carlos Velazquez, ileana Velazquez, Virginia “Liz” Garcia (Jesus), and Juan Antonio Velazquez (Claudia); her grandchildren, Joey Mireles (Maya), Clarissa Moreno (Jesus), Alex Garcia, Marc Garcia (Rusti), Cristian Velazquez, and Viviana Velazquez; her great-grandchildren, Art Campos, Italia Hernandez, Yazmin Williams, Gabriella Garcia, Nicolas Garcia, Ryan Moreno, and Jocelyn Moreno; her brother, Jose Luis Avendaño Velazquez (Laura) Annel, Jose Manuel and Ileana.
A visitation for Josie will be held Thursday, March 14, 2024, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM with a rosary at 7:00 PM at Funeraria Del Angel Trevino Funeral Home, 226 Cupples Road, San Antonio, Texas 78237. The funeral mass will be Friday, March 15, 2024, at 10:00 AM at San Fernando Cathedral, 115 Main Plaza, San Antonio, Texas 78205. Burial will follow at San Fernando Cemetery III, 1735 Cupples Rd, San Antonio, Texas 78237. Reception to follow immediately after internment at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Civic Center, 2123 W. Commerce, 78207(corner of Trinity and W. Commerce).
