On Wednesday, August 31, 2022, Maria Mercedes Velez, loving mother of two children passed away at an undisclosed age.

Born to Felicita Velez in Lares, Puerto Rico and known by family and friends as Mercy she was an excellent student, avid reader, and worked at the family store.

In the late 1950s, she, her brothers Angel Quinones and Michael Velez migrated to New York City in search of a better life. Her sister, Lucita, already married, stayed behind.

In New York, Mercy met her first husband, Oscar Gandia, and she gave birth to Harry Oscar and a year later Aldo Ray.

In the mid-1960s, Mercy moved to Chicago bringing with her Harry and Aldo and later her mother and two sons. She was the family matriarch - always helping others. She soon met Johnny Velez. The two would soon marry and begin their own restaurant business.

Her passions were reading mystery and crime books, movies of all sorts and the Chicago Cubs. Her generosity was always apparent as she never wanted a visitor to leave her home empty-handed.

Mercy was preceded in death by her mother, Felicita, and brother, Michael. She leaves behind her sons Harry and Aldo (Donna), her grandchildren Harry Jr., Christina (Elliott), Simon (Angelica ), Kayla (Brian), Katelyn (Diego), and her beloved 10 great grandchildren.

Kayla eloquently described her grandmother and our loss this way, "our family has lost a fiery woman who endured more hardships that most people can imagine, but remained strong through it all. We can all hope to be half as brave as her"

We love you and we will miss you…