Velda Lencioni

Velda L. Lencioni, 96, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Dec. 24, 2012, at Fountainbleau Lodge in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Sept. 6, 1916, in Union County, Ill., to Frank and Roxie Kimmel Williams. She married Merle Smith on Jan. 28, 1936, in Jackson. She later married Louis Lencioni on May 3, 1963, in Las Vegas. He died Dec. 1, 2006.

Velda worked as a medical assistant for physicians in California and Illinois. She had lived in California more than 40 years, and has been in Cape Girardeau the past eight years. She attended Cape First.

She liked to play golf and won a tournament in Oregon. She also enjoyed gardening, especially growing roses and bright-colored flowers.

Survivors include one daughter, W. June Qualls (Donald) of Cape Girardeau; one son, Charles Smith (Linda) of Hartford, Ky.; one stepson, Edmund Lencioni of California; three sisters, Shirley Forbes of Murphysboro, Ill., Eula Neace (Charlie) of Belvidere, Ill., Mabel "Mame" Spurlock of Anna, Ill.; five grandchildren, Tamela Loomis (Forrest, deceased) of Cape Girardeau, LaDonna Schippers (Gene) of Cape Girardeau, Connie Smith of Kill devil Hills, N.C., Carol Messamore (John) of Anna and Nathan Smith (Diane) of Grand Tower, Ill.; three step-grandchildren, Briget, Claire and Katelyn of California; and six great-grandchildren, Jamin and Jared Schippers, Nikita and Kassia Smith, Kelly and Kaitlyn Messamore; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two sisters; four brothers; one stepson, Louis William Lencioni; and one daughter-in-law, Patricia Smith.

Friends may call from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Charles Lance officiating. Entombment will be at Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum in Cape Girardeau.

Memorial contributions may be given to the charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.