Mrs Maria Diaz

Maria Diaz passed away peacefully on Friday, December 10, 2010 at the age of 89, surrounded by her loving family. Born on February 14, 1921 in Los Angeles, California, Maria was the first child born to Belen Salazar and Jose Velázquez. Maria met her loving husband of 62 years, Alfonso, at the New Mexico-Arizona Ballroom in Los Angeles. After one dance to the music of the Tilly Lopez Orchestra, Maria knew that she and Alfonso were meant to spend the rest of their lives together. They were married soon after. Alfonso preceded her in death on October 14, 2008. Dedicated to her family, Maria cared for her mother until she died at the age of 95; and cared for her husband Alfonso as he began his battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She loved shopping with her daughter Rachel, traveling with her son Raymond, accompanying her son Al to watch his talented children participate in a variety of activities, and “visiting� casinos with her brothers and sister. Maria treated everyone as family. Her door was always open and the welcome mat always out. Her children’s friends enjoyed congregating at Maria’s home on 84th Street because they knew they would be guaranteed one of Maria’s delicious home cooked meals. An avid cook, Maria had the gift of being able to identify the faintest of ingredients contained in tasty restaurant meals and replicate the dish at home. Maria is survived by her three children, Alfonso (Teri), Rachel Centeno (Carl Leonard), and Raymond (Rosie); eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; siblings Jose Velázquez (Luz Marina) and Belen Cerda (Mario); sister-in-law Sylvia Velázquez; and several loving nieces and nephews. She now joins her brothers, Juan Jose, Manuel, and Salvador who preceded her in death. Always ready to do her best, With a heart so true and tender, Maria devoted her life to those she loved, And those she loved will always remember.