Diane Arredondo Velez

Diane Arredondo Velez was born February 19, 1952 in Dallas, TX, to Candelario Arredondo and Chonita Orozco Arredondo Vega.  She was the 2 ^nd oldest of 5 children.  She attended Sacred Heart Catholic School and Crozier Tech High School, in downtown Dallas.  She met the love of her life, Frank Velez Jr., and they were married on February 6, 1970.  They were happily married for 50 years, recently celebrating their special Golden Anniversary.  Together, they welcomed and raised 3 beautiful children.  Raising Frankie, Kimberly, and Kristina was the greatest joy of her life.  She never missed their school activities, soccer games, cheerleading competitions, well, you name it and she was there.  She instilled in them a love of travel, the importance of an education, but most importantly the value of friendship and commitment to FAMILY.  She was the most loving, supportive, and unselfish mom.   Diane is also known for her stellar work ethic, having multiple careers.  First, as a Senior Systems Analyst for the United States Bankruptcy Court where she worked for 25 years.  After retiring from the US Government, she pursued her lifelong dream of earning a college degree and graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a bachelor’s degree in Literary Studies and began her teaching career.  After retiring from Rowlett High School, where she worked alongside her daughter, Kimberly, helping ESL students for 15 years and even winning teacher of the year, she became a realtor.  This she did for “fun” but, you could often find her answering clients’ phone calls and always working to find them that perfect home.  The birth of each grandchild brought a deeper love to her life, and she cherished all 8 of them differently with her whole heart.  She was a devoted, wonderful Grandma/Yaya attending all school, cheerleading, track events, soccer, football, volleyball, and basketball games.  She was always there.  Her love for her grandchildren is never-ending.  She welcomed everyone into her family, never knew a stranger, and had a special love for her mom, sisters, brothers, best friends, nieces and nephews, her in-laws, her Godchildren, her children’s friends, and her cousins.

She is preceded in death, by her loving mom Chonita, her step-father Salvador Vega, her beloved sister Irene Jimenez, and brother Candelario Arredondo, Jr.  She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Frank Velez Jr.; son Frank Velez III and his wife Cristina; daughter Kimberly Ramsey and her husband Jeff; daughter Kristina Tafalla and her husband David; 8 grandchildren, Frank Velez IV, Joshua Ramsey, Jesse Velez, Jonah Ramsey, Kenna Ramsey, Isabel Velez, Roman Tafalla, and Katerina Tafalla; sister MaryLou Martinez and her husband Henry; brother David Arredondo; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and lifelong friends.

She was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, Yaya, daughter, sister, aunt and friend.  We will all miss her immensely.

The family will receive friends at a visitation on Monday, July 20, 2020 from 5:00 to 6:30 pm at Allen Family Funeral Options. The recitation of the rosary will begin at 6:30 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at 11:30 am at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2700 W. Spring Creek Pkwy., Plano, Texas 75023. Diane will be laid to rest at the Dallas/Ft Worth National Cemetery.

A live webcast of The Rosary may be viewed at: http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/33422

Live webcast of the Funeral Mass may be viewed at : https://youtu.be/Zje1q0z4rfI