Maria (Jorge) Velazquez, 78, of New Bedford died Thursday July 14, 2011 at St. Luke's Hospital after a brief illness. She was the wife of the late Marcelino Velazquez.
Born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, the daughter of the late Juan and Jovita (Rodriguez) Jorge, she lived in New Bedford for most of her life.
She was a communicant of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish at St. James Church.
Survivors include two sons, Louis R. Velazquez of Lakeville and Emilio Tevenal, Jr., of Texas; seven daughters, Leida Lugo, Mary Velazquez, Anita Duarte and Linda Sanchez, all of New Bedford, Luisa Nunes and Marcelina Santos, both of Dartmouth, and Lisa Marie Cunningham of New Hampshire; a sister, Marita Maldonado of New Bedford; 23 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren.
She was the grandmother of the late Makenna N. Cunningham.
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday at 9 AM in Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish at St. James Church. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be Friday from 4-8 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.