Genoveva Gonzalez, 81, of Lowell, passed away Monday, August 8, 2022, peacefully with her entire extended family by her bedside at Lowell General Hospital. She was the beloved widow of the late Luis Velez who passed away in 2012.
A daughter of the late Rosario Gonzalez and the late Rosa Garcia, she was born February 2, 1941 in Jayuya, Puerto Rico and was raised and educated in Puerto Rico. In the 1950’s she moved to the United States first settling in New York and then living in Chicago. She eventually made her home in the Boston area for more than thirty years until she moved back to her native Puerto Rico to raise her family. In 1992, she came back to the United States, settling in the Boston area and the Lowell area where she lived the rest of her life with family nearby.
Genoveva was always a mother and her greatest accomplishment in life was her family. She had also worked in the garment manufacturing field in Puerto Rico for many years and when she first came to the US she worked as an assembler at various toy companies. After moving back to Lowell she worked as a CNA and cook at Northwood Nursing Home before her retirement in the early 2000’s.
Her survivors include her children, Luis Velez and his wife, Kacey Brown, of Lowell, Elizabeth Gonzalez and her husband, Francisco Vazquez, of Lowell, Rolando Velez and his wife, Mylene Rodriguez, of Lowell, Johnny Velez and his wife, Altagracia Velez, of Lowell and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings, Samuel Gonzalez of Florida, William Gonzalez of Chicago, Rosario Gonzalez of Lowell, and Felicita Gonzalez of Puerto Rico; as well as many nieces and nephews.
She also was predeceased by several siblings.
You are invited to her calling hours from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Monday, August 15, at the MCDONOUGH FUNERAL HOME, 14 HIGHLAND STREET, LOWELL 978-458-6816.
Her funeral service will be held at the Funeral Home at 12 p.m. followed by procession to Edson Cemetery for burial.