Cherolyn "Cheri" Dawn (Kaurich) Velez, 74, of Brookport, IL, passed away at 4:45 am on her son's birthday, Monday, October 27, 2025 in Nashville, TN. We find comfort in knowing he welcomed her to celebrate with him that day.

Graveside services will be held at 12 noon on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 in Otterbien Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Family and friends are asked to meet at the cemetery. Following the graveside service there will be a reception for family and friends at Mt. Sterling Church in Unionville.

Cheri was born on December 18, 1950 in Lorain, Ohio to George and Mildred Kaurich. She attended Clearview High School and graduated in 1969. She was a retired bus driver, a member of St. Vincent De Paul Church and an avid reader. She enjoyed books and trips about history and the Civil War era. She loved to plant flowers and travel when she could. Cheri held "no punches" and "told it like it was." She went out of her way to help her family and took care of her grandchildren as well. If you find yourself needing a boost or feeling sorry for yourself, just remember "suck it up buttercup" or "put your big girl panties on." I'm sure she is sitting on "cloud 9" where it is "sunny and 75."

Cheri is survived by her life partner, Calvin Jones of Brookport, IL; daughters, Dawn Wendell (William) of Columbia Station, OH and Nichole Velez (Matthew) of Lorain, OH; grandchildren, Avianna, Kyle, Ethan, Alexis, Jared, Sadie, Jacob, Asiah, Aven, Layla, and Izaac; great grandchildren, Aveah, Nevaeh, Stella, Katalaya, and Silas; sister, Cecilia Peasley; brothers, Nicholas Kaurich (Justine) and Michael Kaurich (Teresa); nieces and nephews, Heather, Georgie, Jamie, Kelsey, Cassidy, Finn, Frankie, and Kenneth.

She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Adam Velez; and Warren Delaney.

Pallbearers will be Kyle Velez, Jared Wendell, Jacob Velez, Aven Kielian, Izaac Velez, and William Wendell.

Arrangements are entrusted to Aikins-Farmer-Loftus-McManus Funeral Home in Metropolis. Condolences for the family may be left online at www.aikinsfarmer-millerfh.com.