Guadalupe “Lupe” Hernandez Velasquez passed away at Stanford Medical Center on Friday, September 1, 2017. She was 67.
Lupe was born on August 10, 1950 in Jalisco, Mexico and moved to Watsonville 45 years ago. She couldn’t speak much English but she was a fighter, she accomplished everything she put her mind to it. It was that fighting spirit that helped when she went to Cabrillo College and obtained a license for daycare for children. She became a naturalized citizen on April 1999. She was an awesome cook and enjoyed crafting. Lupe was a very sassy, stylish lady and loved to collect shoes. She loved to get her hair and nails done, and eyebrows waxed. She was beautiful inside and out.
Lupe always had an attitude of gratitude, and a grateful heart. She loved God with all her heart, with all her soul, and with all her mind. She had a big heart, a heart that was always after God’s own heart. She was always thinking and praying for her siblings, sons, daughter, grandkids and her husband. She was humble and joyful in spirit.
Lupe was happiest when she spent time with her family. She loved to spoil her grandkids and share the history of the family with them. She was selfless and always put others before herself. The life lessons of hard work, unconditional love and always to stand strong and positive she taught by example to her family will be cherished. She led a life taking nothing for granted and enjoyed every minute of it.
Lupe is survived by her loving husband of 50 years– Gabriel Velasquez; sons, Gabriel Velasquez Jr and Nolberto Velasquez; daughters, Veronica Velasquez, Sonia Velasquez and Ayeesha Pitchford; siblings Guillermo Cortez, Rosario Moreno, Carmen Garcia, Yolanda Hernandez, Gloria Hernandez and Angel Hernandez; granddaughters, Claudia Velasquez, Adilene Velasquez, Ivanna Velasquez, Destiny Santos, Mollie Velasquez, Gisselle Santos and Myah Velasquez; grandsons, Gabriel Velasquez III, Dominic Velasquez, Daniel Velasquez, Aaron Diaz and Cairo Truth; granddaughters’ husbands, Hubaldo Rodriguez and Carlos Contreras; and great-granddaughter, Jailyn Contreras.
Visitation will be held at Mehl’s Colonial Chapel on Monday, Sept. 11 from 5-9 pm with a service held at 7 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Patrick’s Church on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 10 am with the burial to follow at Valley Public Cemetery.
