TERESA VELA ESPINOSA

Teresa returned her soul to God at 2:20 p.m. Friday, May 7, 2010, with her loving family at her bedside. Teresa was born 10/15/1913 in Durango, Mexico, to Jose and Vicenta Vela, immigrated to EI Paso, TX, at age 6, moving to KC at age l0. She graduated from Redemptorist High School in 1932. She was an interpreter at Guadalupe Center and was their first pre-school teacher. Active in the community, she participated in fiestas and played the Mandolin for Cultural Mexicana. She married Jessie Marino and gave birth to two daughters, Rita Monaco and Teresa Moreno prior to Jessie's death in WWll. During the war she worked at Vendo. In 1946, she married Tom Espinosa and gave birth to three daughters, Mary Byrne, Olivia Bradley and Linda Roberts. She worked for Harzfeld's for 12 years and the Cake Box for 7 years. Teresa was preceded in death by her two husbands, her brother, Manuel Vela and an infant son, Anthony Jay. She is survived by her 5 daughters, Rita (Ken), Teresa (Adolph), Mary, Olivia (Gary) and Linda (KC). Other survivors include her sister, Bertha Medina and brother Louis Vela. Her extended family includes 14 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and 8 great, great grandchildren. Pallbearers are grandsons, Tony and AJ Moreno, Sean and Brit Monaco, Zach Bradley, Tom Byrne and Kyle Roberts. Visitation will be 9-9:50 a.m., Monday, May 10, at St. Michael the Arch Angel Catholic Church, 14201 Nall, OP, KS, with a rosary recitation at 9 a.m. A Mass of Christian burial will immediately follow at 10 am. Interment at Johnson County Memorial Gardens, Indoor Mausoleum, 11200 Metcalf Ave., OP, KS. Memorials may be given in Teresa's name to Odyssey Hospice, 800 E. 101st Terrace, Suite 150, Kansas City, MO 64131. (Arr.: D.W. Newcomer's Sons Johnson County Chapel, 913.451.1860.)