Belen V Velasquez
June 17, 1925 - February 7, 2024
Obituary
It is with deep sorrow and immense love that we announce the passing of Isabel “Belen” Velasquez on February 7, 2024 at the age of 98 years. After coming down with pneumonia in late January, Belen spent her final days in peace surrounded by family at Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue, Washington.
Belen’s family will cherish their memories of her: daughter, Evangeline “Angie” Pineda of North Bend, WA; grandchildren, Miguel Concepcion (and wife Lynda) of Lakeland, FL, Elizabeth Garrido (and partner Craig) of New Braintree, MA, Monica Concepcion (and partner Peter) of Somerville, MA, Jose Pineda III (and wife Riza) of Staten Island, NY, and Camille Biggins (and husband Sam) of North Bend, WA; and great-grandchildren, Charles, Jacob, Valentine, Jose IV, and Jaelynn. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jose “Pepe” Pineda Sr.; children, Elizabeth “Baby” Concepcion and Jose “Boy” Pineda Jr.; and sister, Remedios “Remy” Santamaria.
Belen was born on June 17, 1925 in Manila, Philippines, to Beneta and Adriano Velasquez. At the tender age of 7, Belen led her younger sister to safety following their mother’s untimely death during childbirth. They fled to a Catholic convent and orphanage where they grew up until they came of age. In her youth, Belen enjoyed playing volleyball and dreamt of becoming a journalist, but she never had the opportunity to finish college. Due to their orphanhood, Belen and Remy were compelled to move north to Cabanatuan City in the Nueva Ecija province to seek refuge from a maternal aunt. Belen eventually married Pepe in the early 1940s in the midst of World War II. As she mourned the stillbirth of her first child, Belen dedicated her life to the success and security of her three remaining children, Baby, Boy, and Angie. From their humble beginnings in a provincial nipa hut, all three children went on to graduate from prominent Philippine universities as a result of Belen’s magnificent devotion.
In 1981 Belen unexpectedly moved to the United States with the help of the American Red Cross to spend the rest of her life near her son, whom she had to lay to rest in California. She began building a successful career as a life insurance agent for Prudential and was nationally recognized. Soon after, however, Belen was called upon once more to help Angie raise her daughter, Camille, in Torrance, California. In 1995 the family of three relocated to Auburn, Washington, as part of Angie’s career with World Vision. Belen, Angie, and Camille shared some of their fondest memories together as a small, multigenerational family of women. Eventually, starting in 2015, Belen spent her final years at a loving adult family home in Bellevue, Washington.
Belen was an extraordinary woman whose biblical influence was felt in all the lives she touched. She was as renowned for her tenacity, eloquence, and conviction as she was for her exquisite natural beauty. But Belen Velasquez was known for her maternal love most of all. Belen’s family will hold dear many memories from her life, including her love of lush gardens perfumed with roses and adorned with a Blessed Virgin grotto; assembling collages from fashion magazines and family photos; sculpting the perfect brow with a good pencil; playing timeless European and Filipino classics on the piano; and, of course, all things Catholic. The gift and sanctuary of her presence will not only be missed, but remembered forever.
A funeral service in Belen’s honor will be held on Thursday, February 22, 2024 at 1:00 PM, at Bonney Watson Funeral Home, 16445 International Blvd, SeaTac, WA 98188.
The family wishes to thank Gabriela Deaconu, Colleen, and staff, as well as Overlake Medical Center staff, for their compassionate, steadfast care of Belen.
Leny Pineda Clarino..our deepest sympathy and condolences..my dear Cousin Angie and the family.. rest in peace my most beautiful auntie .. Tia Belen.. we love ❤️ you..
God bless everyone peace and comfort… my love to everyone…
Wonderful tribute to your sweet sweet mother. My thoughts and prayers are with you Angie.
What a legacy she left you all! God’s peace to you all as you celebrate and grieve your beloved mom/grandmother!
You are one of the best friend and a family I’d ever have. I saw you how you tackled life at your dark moments, those happy days when you overcome it all through your keen determination and fighting spirit and you were that person who never give up, and you attained your dreams the way you wanted it to be. You are a very caring person, you love your family so much and you love simple and elegant things, and I always remember those beautiful roses surrounding your house in Torrance, you built beautiful memories with me, as a friend, as part of your family and even we were far apart, we never lost communication, until the time you got sick. I love you Belen, and you will always be a part of my happiest memories here in California. Till we met again .. my condolences and love to the family.