Velma Joyce Hart passed away on Friday, June 10, 2016 at DePaul Hospital in Bridgeton, Missouri after a long battle with respiratory illness.

Velma was born on February 27, 1947 in Saint Louis, Missouri, (originally under the name Wilma, which she later changed to Velma). She was the daughter of the late William Harris LaTurno and Joyce Elaine Hackamack.

Later in life Velma moved to North Miami Beach, Florida where she raised her son Derek and was a proud owner of her own florist business-Thee Flower Shoppe. Velma had many talents including art and sculpting, dancing and of course, floral design. Her interests, however were not limited to just these things. Velma could and would do and try anything that caught her eye and it always turned out that she was pretty good at whatever she wanted to accomplish. She was also known for her love of making lists. She was open-minded and charitable, and although she sometimes had to receive in return, she never took more than she had to and made it a point to give back what she could. She was also a lover of animals and had many pet friends throughout her life. She was a colorful person in a sometimes drab world. Her legacy to us is to be extraordinary and that you really can do so much more than you think you can if you just put your mind to it.

In her final years, Velma depended on her sisters for support and care. Their selfless contribution to her well being made all the difference in the world.

Velma leaves behind to mourn her passing her loving son Derek Hardesty (Martha); grandchildren, Megan and Jason Hardesty; sisters Phyllis Benton and Debe Smith (late Steve); brother-in-law Tom Wilkinson; nieces and nephews Tracy and Christine Wilkinson, Joshua and Melissa Benton and Kari and Nicholas Smith; many other relatives and friends. Her parents and one sister- Faye Wilkinson, preceded her in death.

Services: A visitation will be held at the chapel of St. Louis Cremation, 2135 Chouteau Ave., St. Louis MO 63103 from 5:00 to 9:00 pm (ceremony at 8:00 pm) on Friday, June 17, 2016. Her ashes will be buried at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery near her parents.