Cristina Velazquez, 89, Loved Spending Time With Family

Born September 4, 1924 in Yauco, Puerto Rico, she moved to Lorain, OH in 1954.

She was a graduate of the nursing program at the University of Puerto Rico in Ponce. She cared for her patients as if they were family and worked tirelessly at hospitals in Santurce and San Juan and at St. Joseph Hospital in Lorain. She also shared her compassion with the elderly at various nursing homes in Lorain County.

Christina spent her life devoted to the Lord and served as a Sunday School Teacher for many years. She graduated from the Spanish Eastern Bible Institute in 1980 and traveled to church conventions all around the country and toured Jerusalem several times.

Christina loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her joy in caring for children extended beyond family as a certified in-home day care provider.

Singing and reciting poetry were some of her favorite past times. She was always excited to go to garage sales and flea markets and visited the Amish country almost every year.

Cristina is survived by daughters Ivette Rupert (Jose Pineiro), and Milly (Jose) Torres of Lorain, 5 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren, along with brothers Anibal Martinez of Lorain and Eladio Martinez of New York, and sister Mary Salato of Pennsylvania.

She was preceded in death recently by her husband of 60 years, Angel Velazquez (Sept. 2013), parents Margarita and Pantaleon Flores , sister Angela, and brothers Francisco, Jose, Gasper, Juan, and Rene.

Friends may call Friday from 6pm till 9pm at Iglesia De Dios Pentecostal Ebenezer Church, 3660 Globe Ave., Lorain where funeral services will be Saturday at 10am. Pastor William Rios will officiate. Burial will follow in Ridge Hill Memorial Park, Amherst.

Memorial contributions may be made to the church.

Arrangements are being handled by Reichlin-Cooley Funeral Home.