Ines C. "The Smiling Lady" Monteverde

Ines C. "The Smiling Lady" Monteverde, age 100, of Crystal River, FL passed away May 17, 2025 at her home under the loving care of her family. Ines was born on September 28, 1924, in Brooklyn, NY to Anthony Paul and Emily (Devoto) Monteverde.

Ines graduated from Hunter College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work and Education with a minor in Sociology. Some years later, Ines received a scholarship to secure a Masters Degree in Social Work from Fordham University School of Social Work, (one of the best and most difficult Social Work Schools), her required dissertation was on Housing for the Elderly (Assisted Living) and was forwarded to the US Congress where studies were being made for the future planning for adequate housing for the elderly.

She taught Sociology at the newly founded College of New Rochelle in NY for several years on a part time basis and she taught specialized courses in Examination and Test Taking Skills. Ines had a 34 -year employment with the City of New York Human Resources Department where she started as a case worker and retired as Director of and Office in Upper Manhattan.

She worked in districts such as Harlem, Fort Apache in the Bronx, The Brewery and other sections in different boroughs focusing on volunteerism, working in almost all divisions of Veterans, non-residents, etc., in the Child Abuse section where she helped the NY court system develop a legal form to bring child neglect and abuse cases to court. Until then, no court or legal action was ever taken. As per a federal mandate, Ines was assigned as the director of Volunteers for the Human Resources Department as well as the entire NYC.

While at Human Resources Senior Center, she improved their Telephone Reassurance Section, which covered all the boroughs, and many other varied programs. She was on the Committees to develop volunteer program manuals still in existence today. She often spoke before NYS Legislature to the problems of the elderly and the value of volunteers.

Despite her years of employment in NYC, Ines never lost her love for volunteering which she started in her early school years. Over the years, she volunteered for many groups such as friends to children, (some deaf, abused, etc.) teenagers, elderly, veterans of WWII, Korea, Vietnam, etc. She helped develop the volunteer program for the facility for multi-handicapped individuals. Her volunteering included being involved with hospitals, schools, church groups, veterans' groups and individual veterans of WWI and WWII in nursing homes and other facilities. For many organizations, she assisted in writing the manual on volunteerism, procedures, recording, training for special assignments, etc.

Ines then moved to Florida and became involved with the Crystal River Wildlife Park for 15 years as well as Hospice of the Nature Coast (now Vitas hospice) and served for 23 years visiting private homes, nursing homes, assisted living homes and wherever necessary.

Over the years, Ines was awarded many awards from the agencies in which she served. The ones she cherished most were those from President Ronald Reagan and President George Bush for her innovational volunteer programs and from the suicide Preventions Agency Hot Line honoring her for the many lives she had saved while service with the agency.

In addition to her parents, Ines was preceded in death by her brother, Joseph Monteverde and sister Marie McVeigh. She is survived by her nephews and nieces and their spouses, Cecilia and David Rooney, Elizabeth and Joseph Adams, John and Bernadette Monteverde, Thomas and Laurie McVeigh, Marie E McVeigh, Joseph and Gaye McVeigh, Ann McVeigh as well as numerous great nephews and nieces.

Visitation will be held from 10AM until 11AM with Mass of the Resurrection beginning at 11AM, Thursday, May 29, 2025 at St. Scholastica Catholic Church in Lecanto, FL. Private cremation will follow with burial taking place in New Jersey at a later date. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Brown Funeral Home & Crematory in Lecanto, FL. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to a charity of your choice.