Florencio R. "Floro" "Frank" Velis

Waltham – Mr. Florencio R. "Floro" "Frank" Velis, of Waltham, died Friday, April 4, 2014 at Saint Elizabeth's Medical Center in Brighton. He was 70.

Florencio was born in Cuba on March 27, 1944, the son of the late Pedro Velis and Angela Martinez de la Maza. He emigrated from his homeland to Miami, Florida in 1961 and shortly after that came to Boston to find work.

In the early 60's he opened Iruña Restaurant on JFK Street just outside Harvard Square in Cambridge. For the next forty plus years Florencio got up at five-thirty in the morning to buy the food, clean the restaurant, plan the menu and cook the food in the tiny place that locals called home. After he retired from the restaurant business he kept busy driving a cab for Veterans Taxi, a job he thoroughly enjoyed.

On October 5, 1968 he married Maria L. Rodriguez and the couple lived in Watertown and Brighton before settling in Waltham in 1974 where they raised their family and have been residents since.

Florencio was a longtime member of the National Skeet Shooting Association.

In addition to his beloved wife, Maria, he leaves his children, Steven N. Velis and Gloria A. Mills, both of Waltham and Maria I. Bonilla of Shrewsbury; his grandchildren, Angel Bonilla, Jake Velis, C.J. Mills and Christopher Hall; his sisters, Isabel Rodriguez of Miami, Florida and Gloria Suarez of Homestead, Florida and several nieces and nephews.

Florencio was also the father of the late Alain D. Velis.

Family and friends will honor and remember Florencio's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Tuesday, April 8th from 6 to 8 p.m. and again on Wednesday morning in Mount Feake Cemetery, 203 Prospect Street, Waltham where graveside services will be held at 11 a.m.