Elizabeth Skema

Elizabeth Maria Vela Skema, beloved aunt and sister, died in Durham on October 25, 2024.

The daughter of Dr. Luis Vela and Victoria Vergara, she was born on November 7, 1931 in Cachipay, Colombia. Elizabeth’s mother died when she was four years old and then her father when she was a teenager. These formative losses and attending boarding schools together forged a strong bond between Elizabeth and her sisters. As a young woman, she immigrated to New York with two of her sisters. There she worked for Chase Manhattan Bank and especially enjoyed her work in foreign currencies. She met and married Joseph Skema in New York and they eventually moved to Michigan for his work at The Detroit News. After her husband retired, they moved to Florida and enjoyed several years of retirement traveling and playing tennis together. After her husband died, Elizabeth moved to Chapel Hill to live near her sister’s family, and they will always be grateful that she did. 

Elizabeth had a tender heart and loved deeply. She was the ultimate caregiver when members of her family became ill and cared for them until their deaths, including her husband and two sisters. While she and her husband did not have any children, she loved her nephews and nieces like her own and they shared that love in return. Elizabeth was a constant source of unconditional love and support for them throughout their lives. She took them on special trips, attended milestones in their lives enthusiastically, and supported them in difficult times. 

Elizabeth was a very modest person, usually more interested in talking with others about their lives than her own. She would bemoan that she wasn’t a very good cook, but her family will miss her delicious empanadas, aji, paella, and brisket. Elizabeth would tell you that she didn’t like politics, but she followed current events daily, read multiple newspapers, faithfully voted, and often correctly predicted who would win national elections. She also enjoyed reading books and watching films. In Chapel Hill she was part of a wonderful circle of friends with whom she enjoyed spending time over long lunches and celebrating birthdays. She was a woman of strong Christian faith and her family were fortunate to be lifted in her prayers. 

Family who will cherish her memory include nephew Gregory Gangi of Durham (wife Emily); niece Lisa Gangi of Seattle, Washington (husband Omar); grandnephews Nicholas Peterson of Richmond, Virginia and Joseph Mian of Columbus, Ohio, grandniece Olivia Mian of Columbus, Ohio; grandnephew Oliver Gangi of Durham; sister Margarita Morales of Bogota, Colombia; niece Catalina Christensen (husband Kier) and nephew Diego Morales of England; nephews Felipe Morales (wife Maria Teresa), Francisco Molinos (wife Maria Piedad), and Carlos Vela of Colombia; nieces Victoria Dussan and Rosario Velásquez (husband Rudolpho) of Colombia; nephew Luis Vela (Doris) of Switzerland; and nieces Solvig Vela and Ingrid Vela of Florida. In addition to her parents, Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Skema, and adult siblings Myriam Gangi, Victoria Vela, Luis Eduardo Vela, Francisco Vela, Yolanda Restrepo, and Beatrice Molinos. 

After the death of her sister, Myriam, Elizabeth became a grandmother for her grandnephew, Oliver. They formed a precious relationship that seemed to give her purpose during the pandemic and help her grieve the loss of her sister. Her family is grateful for photos and videos of Elizabeth and Oliver dancing together, playing chase around the house, and cuddling together while watching his favorite programs. Oliver will always have memories of “Grandma Elizabeth” calling him “my sweetheart,” holding his hand while riding in the backseat of the car, and giving him his first big-boy bicycle for his birthday. 

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 9 at The Newman Catholic Student Center, located at 218 Pittsboro Street in Chapel Hill.

This Service Will Be Live-streamed Click Here

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are welcome at Children’s Home Society of North Carolina (www.chsnc.org and PO Box 14608, Greensboro, NC 27415). 

Hall-Wynne Funeral Services assisted the family with arrangements.