Mary Elizabeth Richardson Vela was born in Winnipeg, Canada and passed away peacefully surrounded by her family.

A devoted mother, grandmother, partner, and friend, she was known for her generosity and lifelong commitment to advocacy and community enrichment. Her journey took her from Toronto to Milwaukee, the city she embraced as her adopted home, where she built a life grounded in a genuine love for people.

Mary is survived by her children: Christina, Sofia (Murray), and Victor; her grandchildren, Alina and Kaya; and her partner, Gregorio Vasquez.

She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.

In lieu of flowers, donations to PBS are appreciated, as their programming brought her great comfort.

A Celebration of Life will be held on May 15th from 5-7PM at Troquet, located at 1409 N. Wauwatosa Ave., Wauwatosa, WI 53213.