Adela O. Velasquez

Adela O. Velasquez, age 87, passed away on Sunday, May 3, 2020, in San Antonio, Texas. She was born in San Antonio, Texas, on August 01, 1932, devoted daughter of Manuel Cervantes Orosco and Isabel Hidalgo Orosco. She graduated from Brackenridge High School as a National Honor Society and Commercial Honor Society member. Upon graduation she attended San Antonio College and St. Mary's University, where she studied Data Processing and Technical Writing. She went on to work as a civil service employee for over 35 years, holding numerous positions, including Director of Special Weapons at Kelly Air Force Base; Educational Coordinator at the Department of Medicine and Surgery, US Army Medical Field Service School; and Educational Coordinator at the Academy of Health Sciences Preventive Medicine Division, Ft. Sam Houston. Writing was always a passion of Adela's and later in life she taught herself to become a self-employed editor where she did technical writing and editing for scientific papers, manuscripts, and articles for publication in medical journals and Army publications for physicians and professors at the Academy of Health Sciences and Trinity University. While stationed in Heidelberg, Germany, in the late 1960's with her husband, Johnny, who was a Medical Specialist in the Army, Adela volunteered as an assistant social worker at an orphanage performing administrative duties, caring for toddlers, reading and playing games with pre-school and elementary age children, and talking and counseling pre-teens and teenagers. Always one to give her time to those in need and the less fortunate, she was an avid volunteer throughout her life. Whether it was providing childcare for her many nieces and nephews or taking in foster children into her home and providing them with guidance, care and love; she never hesitated to bring them into her home and raise them as part of her family. She also taught religion classes at Our Lady of the Angels Parish in San Antonio and set up teaching programs for children ages 6 -12. As an involved parent, she was a member of the Middle and High School PTA, a member of Concerned Parents in Action, and became involved with numerous community organizations throughout her life. Her hobbies were any that she could share with her family: her favorite being "family time" when her kids were young. She would make time each day to sit with her family and hear about what went on in each one's day. She also enjoyed needlepoint, crocheting, embroidering, and sewing with her two daughters; as well as reading, ceramics, jogging, and gardening. As a young adult, Adela played city league softball as a pitcher, and also played the violin and piano in middle school and high school. Socially, she also enjoyed dancing and meeting with friends, or just having breakfast and a cup of coffee with her brothers on the weekend. She loved to travel and enjoyed trips to Europe, cruises throughout the Caribbean, and touring the country with her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Isabel H. Orosco and Manual C. Orosco; husband, Johnny R. Velasquez; sister, Virginia Hidalgo; brothers, Elisio (Lee) Hidalgo Mendoza, Alex Orosco, and Jose Luis Orosco; and her daughter in-law, Jacqueline Lawrence Velasquez. Adela is survived by daughter, Cynthia Ann Schurr and her husband Peter; son, John Michael Velasquez and his wife Laurie; daughter, Mary Velasquez Jimenez and her husband Charlie; son, James David Velasquez and his wife LaDonna; grandsons, Matthew Schurr, John-Carlo Jimenez, Miguel Velasquez, Niccolo Velasquez, and Lorenzo Jimenez; and granddaughters, Sarah Schurr, Isabella Jimenez; step-granddaughters, Lauren Newton, and Ava Newton; and many nieces and nephews. Adela will be laid to rest with her husband in Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery on Tuesday, May 12th, 2020. Due to current attendance restrictions surrounding Covid-19 the family will be holding a memorial service for Adela at a later date. A Rosary will be Live-streamed at the date and time noted below. https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mf-userfiles/MFAccount_2097/velasquez_final.mp4 VIGIL SERVICE MONDAY, MAY 11, 2020 6:00 P.M. PORTER LORING NORTH CHAPEL In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to ThriveWell Cancer Foundation at http://thrivewell.org/donate-today/.