Maria Teresa Velez • 10/27/1954 - 3/11/2022 • I adored my Titi (aunt) Tere, who lovingly called me handsome. Titi Tere was a Christian, and she had a direct line to the Lord. And let me tell you, she was frequently on the phone! By the age of 4, I was very aware of my Titi’s ability to speak to the Lord. Whether offering prayers or sharing insights about your future, Titi Tere always knew what was coming. She always had a sixth sense about what was next for me. I thought it was odd, but she always chalked it up to her faith and having his direct line. True Story: in 2011 I excitedly moved to Pennsylvania for a job in education. A week into the job Titi Tere pulls me aside to say, “you won’t be there very long. He has bigger plans for you.” At the time I was miffed - no, this is where I’m meant to be. And yet, months later I was on a plane to LA to pursue a career in film and TV. And every time something great happened in my career Titi Tere was there with a smile to say, “see handsome, I told you.” • A survivor, my Titi worked as a secretary for Morgan Stanley/Dean Witter at The World Trade Center. She was there for the 93 bombing and 9/11. Emotional scars aside, she lived. And I always believed it was because of her relationship to the Lord. I believed that He had a greater purpose for her. She believed that too. She was the seer of the family. • My Titi was always a calming force in my life. She always managed to assuage my anxiety about life (or love or career) with a reassuring energy. She always offered the best hugs, and had the best laugh. I loved the sound of her voice, but even more, I loved the sound of her laughter! And she never laughed harder than when she was with my mom. That guttural tear-filled from the pit of your belly kind of laugh that only sisters can share. Even after she was diagnosed with stage 4 endometrial cancer, less than a year ago, she still managed to laugh. She believed in the power of prayer. She believed that the Lord would protect her and heal her. She’s no longer here in the physical plane, but I believe that wherever her soul dances, that she is absolutely healed. Cancer free. Wrapped in the arms of the Lord. Laughing.