Support the Velo Family in Their Time of Loss

My name is Dawn Carr and much like many of you, I am a close friend to the Velo family. Cathy, Leo, Andy, and Tony Velo have been a mainstay in the Suwanee, GA and the North Gwinnett communities for now over 40 years.

This past Sunday, July 14th, their family suddenly lost their youngest son, Tony. He just turned 26 years old. At 9 mos. old, Tony was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis type 1, a condition that causes tumors to develop along the nerves. Despite five separate year-long regiments of chemotherapy over the course of his life and being legally blind due to optic nerve tumors, Tony always remained positive and upbeat in every facet of his faith and his life. He was a special young man who cared so much for his hometown of Suwanee, GA and all things North Gwinnett. If you knew Tony, you knew he lived and loved deeply with every person he came to meet.

His condition had largely stabilized and Tony was taking his next steps into life and was so excited for his future. He was enrolled at Georgia Gwinnett College, working towards his degree in Special Education with a goal of educating senior adults on how to use technology while having vision impairments. On June 22nd, 2024 Tony was taken by helicopter to Emory Hospital due to the discovery of a large mass in his cerebellum that was causing severe hydrocephalus. In further scans, it was discovered that a large aggressive tumor had also developed in his chest cavity which caused a collapsed right lung and eventually put immense pressure on his heart. Tony passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on Sunday, July 14th, 2024 with his loving family by his side after an intense, brave three week battle in the Emory Neuro ICU. As sudden and as tragic as this is, Cathy, Leo and Andy do find real comfort knowing that Tony is seeing the face of Jesus with his renewed eyesight and we all rejoice that he is home.

I know the community that we live in is one full of kind, supportive, generous people who always show up especially in times of need. I can’t think of a more worthy cause than to support this wonderful family in their time of need. We are asking first and foremost for prayers and secondly for any financial support if able for the Velo family during this extremely difficult and unexpected time. The funds raised will be used for final funeral expenses, unexpected medical costs, and for the family as they deal with this unimaginable tragedy.

Click Here for Tony's Obituary

Visitation & Memorial Service Information:

Visitation: Tuesday, July 23rd. 4-8 pm - Flanigan Funeral Home - Buford, GA

Memorial Service: Wednesday, July 24th - 2 pm - Church on the Hill - Sugar Hill, GA