Americo "Val" Velez

Americo "Val" Velez, age 79, of Edgewater, Florida passed away after a brief illness on Saturday, July 24, 2021. He was born November 20, 1941 in New York, NY to the late Americo and Carmen (Reyes) Velez. Americo is survived by his wife of 54 years, Brunilda "Lilly" (Rosario) whom he married on August 12, 1967 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Brooklyn NY. Also surviving are their children: Christine & Matthew Prenatt of New Carlisle, OH and Michael & Leah Velez of Troy, OH; grandchildren: Isabelle & Xavier Prenatt and Evelyn Velez; sisters: Minerva Glidden of Orlando, FL and Miriam Castagna of Howard Beach, NY; brothers and sisters-in-law: Edwin & Yolanda Rosario of Green Cove Spring, FL, Richard & Mickey Rosario, Elsie Russo, Fred Rosario, and Evette & Daniel Gonzalez all of Deltona, FL, along with numerous nieces and nephews. Americo was preceded in death by his mother & father-in-law Federico & Maria Rosario, half siblings: Julia Miranda and Harry Miranda and brothers & sisters-in-law: Kay Glidden, Frank Castagna, Joseph Rosario, Nora Rosario and Mark Russo.

Americo was a 1961 graduate of Aviation High School in Queens, NY. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Northrop University in 1971 and his master’s degree from Embry-Riddle in 1995. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force and retired from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as an aerospace engineer. Americo was a long time member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in New Carlisle, OH where he served as parish council president and Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus. He later served as an acolyte for Sacred Heart Catholic Church in New Carlisle and St. Gerard Catholic Church in Edgewater, FL. Americo was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, as well as a man of great faith. In his leisure, he enjoyed fishing, swimming, and boating.

A rosary will be prayed prior to Mass at 10:00 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in New Carlisle followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 on Thursday, August 12. Interment will follow at the Dayton National Cemetery at 12:30, where military honors will be given. Friends may call from 4:00 - 7:00 on Wednesday, August 11, at Trostel, Chapman, Dunbar & Fraley Funeral Home in New Carlisle, OH. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org. Expressions of sympathy may be made at trostelchapman.com.