A mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Jan. 22 at St. Joseph’s Church for Amelia Aviles, 100. She passed away peacefully at home on Jan. 18 surrounded by her family and friends, in the same home she lived in for more than half a century. Amelia was born in Cayey, Puerto Rico to Julia and Francisco Veguilla. She came to Jersey City in 1939. An accomplished seamstress, she went to work as an assembly line worker at the Western Electric plant in Kearny. As a member of the IBEW at Western Electric, she retired with a lifetime defined pension and lifetime health benefits. Her primary goal in life was to have a family and ensure her children had an opportunity to get an education.
All her children graduated from college-Robert (Columbia University), Hilda (New York University), Jorge, Rafael and Kevin (St. Peter’s University). She was a parishioner of St. Joseph’s Church.
Amelia was the wife of the late Rafael Aviles; mother of Rafael V. Aviles (wife Daisy), Jorge (wife Elzbieta), Hilda, Robert and Kevin Cerosky; grandmother of Carlo, Estella, James, Rebecca, Barbara and Victoria and predeceased by grandson, Michael, and four siblings, Santiago, Felipe, Maria and Alfonsina. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. She spent her final years under the care of Ana and Luz Duran who became a wonderful part of her family, and always looked forward to the visits from long time family friend, Robert Donnelly. Services arranged by the McLaughlin Funeral Home, Jersey City.