Kathi "Kat" Velasquez

Kathi R, Velasquez, 63, of Albuquerque, passed away on 02/17/2022 in her home peacefully. Kat was born on 02/03/1959 to Lucia López & Jerry Nusbaum first named Geroldine Ellen Nusbaum in Salt Lake City, Utah. After being adopted by B. Mike Spencer and Frances Long Spencer her name was changed. Kathi was adopted at 18 months and given the name Kathi, that’s how we knew her and loved her. Kat!

Kat was the 7th child of her biological family of the Lopez Family. She loves cats and she went by the nickname Kat, saying she had 9 lives. Always curious and playful, Kat was a member of Davis County. She attended Clearfield High and was upward bound when she went on to study criminology at Weber State University and social work at Santa Fe Community College.

Kat had a life-long love for both the mountains and skies of New Mexico. She enjoyed skiing, camping, hunting, fishing, swimming, and nature. Her hobbies were beading, making dream catchers, cooking, baking and when she wasn’t filling her home with warmth and kindness, she could be found at home making Native American jewelry and dream catchers. She is a Super Mother as she did the work of two as our mother and our father. She loved kachina dolls, pottery, the Native American culture, and spending time with her family. Kat particularly loved Elvis, Michael Jackson, jamming a variety of other music, and dancing. On Sundays, she loved going with her daughter and grandchildren Chadae and JJ at Sagebrush Church for worship. She was always willing to help those in need as she contributed to the church and The St. Jude Child Cancer Research Center faithfully for years. She would give her last dollar to help a stranger. Kathi was a humanitarian and had a huge love for our planet and mother nature.

She is survived by her children Angelina Velasquez, Mario Velasquez, Antonio Delgado, and Chico Delgado; grandchildren Chadae Velasquez, JJ Gurule, Leilana Delgado, Mikela Delgado, Dominic Velasquez, and Carlos Velasquez; biological sisters and brother Lenda Keysaw Asay, Julie Ann Goodfellow, Deana Opheikens, and Chris Galligos; adopted sister and brothers Martha Jane Spencer, Mark Spencer, and Jeffrey Spencer; many couisins and family; nieces Sonya Velasquez and Benita Lopez Karo, and nephew Angelo Quintana. Kat had many more loving nieces and nephews, and she will be especially missed by Yoda, her cat.

Kat is preceded in death by her biological mother and father as well as her adopted mother and father, three sisters Patricia Lopez, Juanita Lopez and Katherine Jean Lopez; her best friends Jana and Jim, and an abundance of friends and family.

Kat predeeds her Aunt Myrna. She referred to her as Mera Mera, because Myrna is the Matriarch of our Lopez family. 

She will be missed by her sisters and kids for her way to make everything better, her nighttime calls and her contagious laugh- our grandmother had the same laugh. May she bring hugs to all our loved ones in heaven. Our sweet grandmother, mother, sister, daughter, and friend. Kathi had an unconditional love for others and was always happy and bringing out the happiness in others. She would always make us laugh and help others to do good. Her smile was addictive and contagious. Kathi has a strong faith for the Lord as she brought her children to faith through Bible stories. When they were children as she was a seamstress and made beautiful dresses for herself and her daughter. Kat’s garden was always amazing as she had a green thumb. Kat had many talents and pure genuine qualities that will be sincerely and deeply missed by all who were able to grace her life. Kat would want us all to be happy knowing she’s with our Savior and will be shining down like rays of sunshine from heaven.

We thank you for being apart of laying our mother to rest and celebrating her life and all the wonderful memories.

All donations can be made to Eastgate Church:

12120 Copper Ave NE

Albuquerque, N.M. 87123

505-296-7875

Or

St. Jude’s Children’s Cancer Society.

Cremation commenced on March 25,2022, and Kat’s celebration of life services will be at East Gate Church on April 8, 2022  at 1:00 pm.