Jorge S. Vera

Jorge S. Vera born October 31 1928 in Guayaquil Ecuador, and entered heaven on Thursday May, 5 2022 after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was blessed with 93 beautiful years of life. Jorge was a loving husband and father to his family, and leaves behind a legacy of memories and life lessons for all who knew him. After the death of his father at an early age, he was raised by his beloved grandparents. His grandfather was a Sea Captain on a Trade Ship that sailed throughout South America, which inspired Jorge’s love for the ocean. His grandfather instilled the importance of hard work and education, making sure that Jorge attended a proper Catholic boarding school during the year. The deal was that if Jorge did well in school, he would get to explore his love of the ocean during the summer aboard his grandfather’s boat, along with his childhood dog, Coqui. During these summers, Jorge always spent his time fishing, swimming and learning about marine life while spending time working the trade routes with his grandfather. Along with his studies, Jorge excelled as an athlete in his free time at school. He was a star soccer player and stand-out swimmer during his time in high school and college. After graduation, Jorge began he studies of law, eventually moving into the banking and finance field in Ecuador where he quickly moved up the ranks. To help support himself through law school he worked as a beach lifeguard, which is where he met the love of his life and wife of 69 years, Norma Luque. The two of them started a family shortly after their marriage. Their first-born son Jorge was later followed by their daughters Silvia, Dominique and Cathy. Once Jorge’s family was established, he wanted to search for a location with greater opportunities, so he emigrated to the United States and New York City where he could earn more money to support his family and eventually bring them to the US. Although he was a lawyer with a finance background, he was unable to obtain a position in his chosen profession. However, the work ethic that was instilled in him as a child working with his grandfather proved an advantage, allowing him to work multiple jobs to support his family back in Ecuador. Eventually, he secured a position at Marine Midland Bank and was able to bring Norma and his children to New York City, where they lived for several years. As Jorge’s career progressed, he and Norma bought their first home in New Jersey, where they continued to raise their family. Jorge eventually became Vice President of International Letters of Credit for Midlantic Bank and PNC, which he retired from at the age of 65. He walked all of his daughters down the aisle at their weddings, and spent much time with his four grandchildren, sharing many happy moments together. Jorge never lost his passion for the ocean and enjoyed swimming and taking long walks on the beach right up until Parkinson’s made him too weak to do so. Jorge loved having a reason to celebrate and enjoyed parties with his friends and family. This most likely came from having been born on Halloween and entering heaven on Cinco de Mayo. Jorge leaves behind his Wife Norma of 69 years, Daughters: Silvia Petrone and Son in Law Joseph Petrone; Dominique Eck and Son in Law Chris Eck; Cathy Jenson and Son in Law Robert Jenson, and Grandchildren: Jennifer Miranda and her husband Luis Miranda, Melissa Petrone, Lauren Taylor Eck and Ashley Klein. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made in Jorge S. Vera’s name to The Michael J. Fox Foundation @ www.MichaelJFox.org Visitation on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Union Funeral Home, 1600 Stuyvesant Ave., Union, NJ. A Funeral Mass will be offered on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Helen Church, 1600 Rahway Ave., Westfield, NJ. Family and Friends are requested to meet directly at the church on Wednesday. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Westfield.