Jose Jacob Velez (Joe) passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, after a brief illness on August 25 ^th . Joe was 70 years old and a proud Bronx native. He had recently retired from Con Edison after 52 years of loyal service; a company that linked so much of his family. Joe is survived by Catherine- his loving wife of 42 years, his children Stephen, Kevin and Kayla, their spouses Christine, Melissa and David; and his grandchildren Jack, Declan and Oscar. He was predeceased by his parents Marie and Manuel and his sister Anne Marie, and leaves behind his siblings Christa, Ron, Louise and Vickie; as well as a host of adoring nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws.

Joe Velez had a loyal, welcoming heart and absolutely lived to take care of his family. His children's homes are stocked with every tool imaginable, and vacation and holiday meal planning began for Joe six months in advance. He delighted in feeding a full house, making sure everyone was comfortable, and then watching the family shenanigans from a recliner with a cup of coffee. He loved to bust your chops, always with a smile and a twinkle in his blue eyes. To everyone in Joe's corner, you were either a "Suzy" or a "Johnny."

Joe Velez was the epitome of hard work, dedication and loyalty. He woke up before the sunrise for the majority of his life, and welcomed the friends of his children with the love and protection that he gave his own. In addition to the Velez's, Joe inherited Cathie's Irish clan 45 years ago, and her siblings became his own. He and Cathie relished their most recent role as Glammy and Pops.

Joe was incredibly loved by so many, and the void he leaves in our hearts, homes and family vacations is immeasurable. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the AmeriCorps program at https://americorps.gov/donate . Information on services is below:

Memorial Gathering

Shook Funeral Home

639 Van Houten Ave, Clifton NJ, 07013

Monday, August 30 ^th at 5:00 -7:00 pm

Funeral Mass

St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church

124 Union Ave, Clifton NJ, 07011

Tuesday, August 31 ^st at 10:00 am