Antonia Velez LaFosse

Antonia Velez Lafosse, 77 of DeLand passed away October 31, 2023 at the Halifax Health Hospice of Volusia/Flagler Care Center in Orange City. She was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico on June 14, 1946 and moved to Florida in 2003 from Boston, Massachusetts. Antonia retired in 2020 as a dining room assistant at DeLand Middle School, after 17 years of service. She was a member of El Santuario in DeLand. She was predeceased by her husband of 46 years, Juan “Wally” Ortega, son Jose Antonio Ortega and grandson Jon Jonathan. She is survived by daughters Maria Thomas, Waleska Ortega, Cathy Hamilton and Daisy Ortega. Grandchildren: Patricia, Jullien, Kayla, Jaime, Jarely, Efrain, Alejandro, Taino, Cali, Alani, Cassia and Aison. Great-grandchildren: Joniel, Kai and Isaiah. Brothers: Norberto and Jose and sisters Ramonita, Gloria, Santa, and Carmen. 

The family will receive friends from 10-11am, with the funeral service at 11am on Tuesday, November 7th at El Santuario (City Sanctuary Church 401 Taylor Road DeLand, FL 32724). Burial will follow at Hollywood Cemetery in Orange City. 

In lieu of flowers, Antonia would appreciate donations to be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in her and her husband's memory (Antonia "Toñita" Velez and Juan "Wally" Ortega) at www.stjude.org. She also requested donations/love offerings for her long time home; El Santuario at City Sanctuary Church 401 Taylor Road DeLand, FL 32724  https://citysanctuary.church/ 

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