Julia Vela Obituary
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She was born on March 17, 1958 in Chicago, IL and had been a resident of Okeechobee since 2018, coming from Ft. Pierce, FL.
Mrs. Vela was a preschool teacher for 15 years at Sunrise Preschool in Ft. Pierce. She retired in 2017.
Julia was of the Catholic Faith.
Survivors include her loving husband of 27 years, Aurelio Vela of Okeechobee, FL; one son, Travis Vela of Cumming, GA; two sisters, Mary Margaret Spata Shepka of IL and Jennie Crawford of IL.
Arrangements are under the direction of Millennium Funeral Home & Crematory Okeechobee. An online guestbook may be signed online by visiting www.millenniumfuneralhome.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
3 Entries
Therese Whitlock
November 21, 2025
My favorite memory of Julie as a child was of her wearing Aunt Fannie´s red high heels with a hairnet bobby-pinned to the back of her head to simulate a ponytail. Aunt Fannie was only 4ft 11, and had a very small foot. Julie could run around outside in them without any difficulties. When it was time for Aunt Fannie to leave, we´d have to search for Julie to get the shoes back. Julie always wanted a ponytail as a child, but she was always cutting off her own hair. After one of these haircuts, Aunt Faye would always ask my mother to fix it. Julie would tell me my mother that she wanted a ponytail. My mother would tell her than don´t cut your hair, but Julie would just laugh. You knew that she was going to cut it again, no matter where you hid the scissors, she would find them. I haven´t seen Julie for a long time, it´s hard to believe we will never see her again in this life. I will always remember her in the red high heels running down the block.
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Mary Shepka
November 21, 2025
To my dear sister I love you so much I am glad you are at peace now. And you are with Mom and Dad. I will miss you so much. I loved when you and I and Jeanne would remember our days of growing up. Especially when we would reminisce about the good old days.
Arthur Rheingans
November 21, 2025
Didn't see you for many years but thought of you as you did us. RIP Julie
Art and Maryann Rheingans
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3833 SE 18th Terrace, Okeechobee, FL 34974
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