Carolyn Sheila Velez

Carolyn Sheila Velez, 86, born on August 28, 1936, in New York City , NY, United States, passed away peacefully by natural causes on March 29, 2023. She resided in Palm Springs, CA at the time of her passing.

Beloved and devoted spouse and life partner to Raymond Albert Velez (July 3,1933 - July 10, 2013), Carolyn lived a truly remarkable and wonderful life. Carolyn was a kind, beautiful, immensely intelligent, loving, caring, generous woman who lived life with great vigor.

Carolyn had an infinite need to be loving, caring and helpful to her children Valerie and Richard, grandchildren Annie, Matthew and Lucas, brother Michael, and was a true and loyal friend to many, some for almost her entire life.

Carolyn was a precious person, interesting, talented, smart, funny, so admirable, always eager to learn and satisfy her curiosity for knowledge and understanding. She loved expressing herself creatively, and loved reading about history in particular.

Carolyn attended the High School of Performing Arts as a pianist and Hunter College in her youth and early adulthood, both in New York City. In 1973, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Hayward (now called California State University, East Bay). She was a life-long learner, who also attended and helped to organize Osher classes at the UCR and Cal State San Bernadino campuses in Palm Desert throughout the last 20 years of her life.

Though she came to very much enjoy her years living first in New Jersey and then both Northern and Southern California, Carolyn inevitably identified as a New Yorker. She said her first memory was at about age five, stating vehemently, "I am a New Yorker!" That love affair with New York never changed for her.

Carolyn was a feisty, independent and interesting person who will be greatly missed and always valued by those who knew and loved her.