Obituary of Velma Furno
Velma Furno, 88, of Elgin, AZ, passed away on March 2, 2021.
Velma was born November 13, 1932 in Louisville Kentucky. She is preceded by her parents, brothers, granddaughter, Danielle Long (1986-2020) and husband Joseph Furno (1930-2018).
Velma was raised in the hills of Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio River Valley. She grew up in the country, where she gained an appreciation for the simple pleasures of life and developed a deep love for nature and animals. At the age of 12 Velma and her Mother moved to West Palm beach Florida, where she helped her mother run and operate a successful restaurant.
In 1952 Velma married her beloved Joe Furno and they moved to Tucson Arizona to start a life together. She took great pride in raising her four children and took them on several adventures across the country, Mexico and Canada. In 1986 Velma and Joe moved to Egin, AZ where they continued to enjoy simple, country living.
Velma had many hobbies that she was particularly great at, including, crocheting, sewing, baking, cooking, and gardening. She was an extraordinary cook and it became one of her favorite past times throughout her life. She spent over 10 years sharing that love and passion with others as the Food Service Director at Salpointe Catholic High School. Every bite of her meals was unforgettable thanks to her natural and unremarkable cooking skills. Although Velma was an outstanding cook, she remained quietly humbled even after winning several blue ribbons and awards at local fairs, auctions and charities.
Velma had a remarkable green thumb. She took great pride in her garden, flowers and plants and spent hours making sure they were well watered, trimmed and picked. Her fruits and vegetables were transformed into delicious jams, jellies, fruit leathers, desserts, and a variety of canned goods.
Velma adored her animals, including her birds and dogs. She would greet them with a smile, would have casual conversations and always overfilled their bellies. She was simply fascinated with nature's beauty and enjoyed watching the birds and animals graze in her front yard.
Velma had a special devotion to her family. Her eyes and spirit would light up hearing the kids run around and the family “cuttin up”. Spending time with family was one of her favorite pastimes and always brought her so much joy. She was a strong, sophisticated, elegant, family-oriented woman with a graceful way of making everyone feel at ease. She was blessed with many gifts, loved by all and her pure and kind spirit will be greatly missed.
Velma is survived by her children Ralph (Judy) Furno, Patty Martinez, Jane Long, Joseph (Joey) Furno, 9 grandchildren, Ralphie Furno, Dominic Ingle, Nicholas Martinez, Jennifer Murrietta, Jacqueline Urquijo, Patrick Long, Anthony Furno, Christian Long, Alison Furno and 10 great-grandchildren.
Services will be held Friday March 19, 2021 at 12:00 pm at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 601 East Fort Lowell with a viewing from 11:00 am to noon and a rosary recited at 11:30 am. Entombment to follow at Holy Hope Cemetery.
