On December 3, 2021, in Bluffdale, Utah Jose Santiago Velez gained the will to move on from this life into the next. He rested in the comfort of his eldest daughter’s home surrounded by the love of his wife and family. Jose was born on December 10, 1955 in Lima, Peru to Nestor Edmundo Velez Tejada and Baltazara Chozo Chaponan. He was loved and adored by his parents and two sisters, Gloria Aurora and Norma Nila. Jose served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Peru. While on his mission he valued his calling as an assistant to the mission president. Following his mission in Peru, Jose married the love of his life, Eloisa del Carmen Bendezu. In February 1981 Jose and Eloisa were married and sealed for time and all eternity in the Sao Paulo, Brazil Temple.
Their marriage was blessed with three daughters, and one son. After the birth of their first daughter, Ligia Veronica in Peru, Jose and Eloisa immigrated to the United States of America. With the help of their missionary companion friends, they were able to settle down in Southern California. In Los Angeles, California they raised their four children, which also included Gioconda, Jose Mauricio, and Tiffany Rachel. Jose and Eloisa raised their children in the Whittier Stake, until they later moved to Utah County to be closer to their college aged children and family. After 13 years of living in the United States of America with his family, Jose, Eloisa, and Ligia celebrated their American citizenship. Jose would go on to become a dedicated patriot and honor the American Flag. The United States provided the opportunity to live in a developed country, where the American dream could be achieved with hard work, education and perseverance.
Jose had a great love for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and worked for the church in South America. One of his most treasured experiences was helping to purchase the land to build the temple of Lima, Peru. Jose was a friendly man, with a clever and witty personality. He loved getting to meet and know people, and is remembered for having a sweet smile and giving the warmest hugs that made everyone feel welcome and loved. He enjoyed biking, basketball, cooking, great food, movies, 80’s disco and classical music, chess, staying in touch with his old missionary companions, and always celebrating his Peruvian culture. Jose loved to live close to the beach, going deep sea fishing, and making visits with his children, family, and friends to Disneyland. Jose also had a great fascination with modern technology, electronics, computers, and real estate. He spent his life working as a mechanic with laundromat machinery, and progressed to working with real estate.
With the help of his wife, Jose helped to pioneer the way for his family to enter the United States of America. He helped his sisters, and parents settle in California, which included his loving niece and nephews, Raymondo Giovanni, Ursula Paola, Giampiero Moroni, and Bruno Emanuelle. He loved and treated the Scattolon children like a father, and helped guide them into their adulthood.
Jose was a dedicated friend, a devoted son, a brother, a loving husband, a father, an uncle and grandfather. He was grandfather to Orion Athen, Chrysalis Rae, Hinckley James, Edison Kale, Phoenix Taylor, Aslan Titus, and Justice Edmund Huntington. He also celebrated when his only son and daughter-in-law made him a grandpa to Santiago Mauricio and Leo Michael Velez. His hopes and dreams for the Velez family name would carry on his legacy long after he departed this earth. Furthermore, he was a father to the family dog Scout, which his children grew up treasuring dearly.
Jose was preceded in death by his parents, Nestor and Baltazara Velez, and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Jorge and Olga Bendezu. Jose was survived by his wife, Eloisa; daughter Ligia Huntington (Alex); his daughters Gioconda Velez, and Tiffany Velez; his son Jose Mauricio Velez (Autumn); grandchildren, Orion, Chrysalis, Hinckley, Edison, Phoenix, Aslan, Santiago, Justice, and Leo; his sisters Norma Velez and Gloria Scattolon; as well as his niece and nephews, Giovanni Scattolon, Ursula Morrison, Giampiero Scattolon, and Bruno Scattolon.
Funeral services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 15120 Noell Nelson Drive, Riverton, UT on Tuesday, December 14, 2021. A celebration of life for Jose Santiago Velez will include a viewing from 9:00am-10:30am, with services to follow from 11:00am-12:00pm. Friends and family are invited to his memorial, with the interment and dedication of the grave immediately following at the Lehi City Cemetery. After the burial, luncheon will follow at the meetinghouse. Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.larkinmortuary.com. There will be a live stream of the services available on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85910217527 or through www.larkinmortuary.com for directions to watch services. A gofundme account was created to help Eloisa and the Velez family cover the costs of funeral expenses https://gofund.me/5fc4f85c. The Velez family cherishes and would like to thank everyone for all expressions of condolences, prayers, and donations.