Cheryl Lynn Velasquez passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 5, 2026, at the age of 76.
Born on January 11, 1949, in Houston, Texas, Cheryl was the daughter of James and Carol Russel. She grew up in Pasadena, Texas, alongside her sister Patsy and brother Mike. After moving to California with her family as a young woman,
Cheryl quickly fell in love with the state that would become her lifelong home.
Drawn by a natural compassion and a desire to care for others, Cheryl chose a career in nursing. She worked in several medical offices before finding her true calling as a Registered Nurse at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura, where she touched many lives through her kindness and dedication.
Cheryl married her first husband, Mike Murphy, in 1975 and in the following year they would welcome their daughter, Kelly, into the world.
In 1982, Cheryl met the love of her life, Sal Velasquez, and they were married the following year. Together, they had one son, Christopher, and then built a life and raised their family in Ventura—a city Cheryl proudly called home for the rest of her life.
Family was the heart of Cheryl’s world. She cherished time spent with her husband and loved traveling together, seeing places she once only imagined as a young girl growing up in Texas. Cheryl was an avid animal lover, a friend to dogs, cats, and countless other creatures. She found joy in singing, reading, swimming, and watching films, interests that brought her comfort and happiness throughout her life.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Carol. Cheryl is survived by her husband, Salvador Velasquez; her children, Kelly Murphy-Marshall and Christopher Velasquez; and her grandchildren, Makayla Marshall and Alanna Marshall, all of whom she loved deeply.
Cheryl’s warmth, compassion, and love for her family will be remembered always. She will be deeply missed. Family and friends are invited to a celebration of her life to be held at the Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 757 E. Main Street, Ventura. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday evening , January 21, 2026 from 5 to 8 pm in the funeral home.