Ana Maria Lopez

STERLING – Ana Maria Lopez, 93, died Thursday, January 9, 2020 at her home surrounded by her family.

Ana Maria was born September 2, 1926 in Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco, the daughter of Luis Antonio “Leoncio” and Virginia (Aguila Rocha) Velasquez Galvan. She married Vincent Lopez on April 15, 1950 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Sterling. He preceded her in death on July 8, 2006.

Survivors include four daughters, Marina (Dave) Cantu, Rosalinda Lopez both of Sterling, Sonia (Ronald) Lopez Cronk of Montgomery IL, Violet (Dan) Buntjer of Cibolo, TX; two sons, Vincent Lopez Jr. of Moline, John (Karyn Smeltzer) Lopez and Melissa Love of Sterling; two brothers, Jose “Pepe” Velazquez of Lyndon, Rojelio (Francisca) Velazquez of Rock Falls; 18 grandchildren, Julio (Barb) Cantu, Sarah (Travis) Cantu-Thom, Phillip Cantu, Eric (Christi) Cantu, Joshua (Deandra) Epperly-Lopez, Adam (Shawna) Epperly-Lopez, Katrina Epperly-Lopez, Natalie Ramirez, Vanessa (Vince) Ramirez-Escobar, Hannah (Juan) Ramirez-Trujillo, Elizabeth (Nick) Lopez-Walter, Daniel B. Buntjer, Andrew (Sarah) Buntjer, Hilaria (Derek) Knetchel, Ivy (Paul Ornelas) Martinez, Paige Love, John “Johnny” V. Lopez and Jordan (Raechel) Lopez; 35 great-grandchildren; and three brothers-in-law, Alfred Lopez, Jesse (Adela) Lopez, and Frank (Diana) Lopez.

She was preceded in death by her husband; two children in infancy; four brothers, Carlos Velasquez, Rodolfo Velazquez, Antonio Velasquez, Juan Velazquez; four sisters, Eustolia Moreno, Genoveva Alcantar, Carmen Galvan, Maximina Marquez; one daughter-in-law Deidre Epperly.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 16, 2020 at St. Andrew Catholic Church with Reverend Richard Russo officiating. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Sterling. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday with Rosary recited at 7:30 p.m. at the Schilling Funeral Home, Sterling.

A memorial has been established.

Condolences may be sent to www.schillingfuneralhome.com.