Deaths

• Aragon, Veronize
• Beckner, Jerry
• Begay, Mary
• Dennison, Shirley
• DiGiacomo, Concetto
• Tullie, Stephanie
• Vann, Lafel

Veronize Aragon

GRANTS — Funeral Mass for Veronize Aragon, 61, were 9:30 a.m., today, May 27, at the St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church. Burial was at Grants Memorial Park. The Very Rev. Alberto Avella was the celebrant. A rosary was recited at 9:30 a.m. May 27, at the St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church.

Aragon died May 21, 2008, in Albuquerque. She was born May 3, 1947, in South San Isidro, N.M.
Survivors include her children, Ethel Aragon of Grants, Gilbert Aragon of Grants, Matthew Lopez of Gallup; sister, Lorraine Archuleta of Grants.

Aragon was preceded in death by her son, Lloyd Aragon; parents, Samuel Herrera, Matilda Martinez Herrera.

Pallbearers were Gilbert Aragon, Matthew Lopez, Lloyd Aragon Jr., Samuel Gonzales, Ralph Ortiz, and Manuel Chavira.

Compassion Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.

Jerry Beckner

BLUEWATER — Memorial services for Jerry T. Beckner, 70, will be 11 a.m. May 28, at the Central Baptist Church, Grants. The Rev. Lonnie Jordan will officiate.

Beckner died May 24, 2008, in Grants. She was born April 21, 1937, in Artesia, N.M.

Beckner was retired from the Grants Cibola County Schools as a Bus Driver.

Survivors include her husband, Freddie Beckner of Bluewater Village; sons, Rickie Beckner of Elko, N.V., Michael Wayne Beckner of Elko, N.V., Mark Beckner of Bullhead City, Ariz.; sister, Ella Rose Roberts of Grants; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren.

Beckner was preceded in death by her parents, William F. Robertson, Ethel Parker Robertson.

Compassion Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Mary Begay

CASAMERO LAKE — Services are pending for Mary Lee Begay, 65.

Begay died May 22, 2008, in Shiprock. She was born Dec. 28, 1942, in Borrego Pass, N.M.

Compassion Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Shirley Dennison

NASCHITTI — Services for Shirley Rose Dennison, 70, will be 10 a.m. May 28, at the Cope Memorial Chapel, Gallup. Burial will be in the family plot in Naschitti.

Dennison died May 21, 2008, in Albuquerque. She was born April 10, 1939, in Naschitti, into the Tangle People Clan for the Bitter Water People Clan.

Dennison was a homemaker. She enjoyed sewing, traveling, spending time with family and friends and her grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband, Patrick J. Dennison of Naschitti; sons, Patrick C. Dennison of Naschitti, Douglas W. Dennison of Naschitti, Quinn T. Dennison of Crownpoint; daughters, Patricia F. Johnson of Gallup, Sandra E. Dennison of Gallup, Christine Tarr of Durango, Colo., Yvonne G. Jacobs of Fort Meyers, Fla., Geraldine Dennison of Minnesota, Janet Dennison of Gallup, Cora Owens of Gallup; sister, Grace Rose Nez of Naschitti; 24 grandchildren; one great-grandchild.

Dennison was preceded in death by Evangeline M. Dez, Ervin Manuelito; grandmother, Alice Francisco; grandfather, Hosteen Dez.

Pallbearers will be Adrian Malone, Courtney Dennison, Gabriel Curley, Zane X. Hawthorne, and Tyrell J. Dennison.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the family residence, Naschitti, following services.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Concetto DiGiacomo

GALLUP — Funeral Mass for Concetto “Chet” Isidoro DiGiacomo, 79, will be 10 a.m. May 28, at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Gallup. The Rev. Lawrence O’Keefe will officiate. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial, Gallup. A rosary will be recited 7 p.m., tonight, May 27, at the Sacred Heart Cathedral.

DiGiacomo died May 22, 2008, in Gallup. He was born April 4, 1929, in Cansano, Italy.

DiGiacomo attended 2 years in secondary school, Sulmona, Italy. He came to the U.S. in 1947. He worked at the San Juan Grocery from 1947-1955, California Supermarket from 1955-1970, Purchased Paramount Liquors with his wife, Helen, in 1970. DiGiacomo retired in 2006. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish and Gallup Chamber of Commerce.

Survivors include his wife, Helen DiGiacomo of Gallup; son, Dr. Quint DiGiacomo of Gallup and Scottsdale, Ariz.; daughter, Mary Komadina of Tucson; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild.

DiGiacomo was preceded in death by his daughter, Ida DiGiacomo-Davis; Quintiliano DiGiacomo; mother, Maria Nicola DiGiacomo; sisters, Francesca DiPaolo, Ida DiGregorio, Velia Desantis.

Pallbearers will be Nick Davis, John Komadina, Kirk DiGiacomo, Eric DiGiacomo, Gregory Masci, and Dr. Nick DeSantis.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Sacred Heart Cathedral Family Center, following services.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Stephanie Tullie

CRYSTAL — Funeral services for Stephanie Mary Tullie, 6 months, will be 10 a.m. May 28, at the Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Fort Defiance. The Rev. Gilbert Schneider, OFM, will officiate. Burial will be in family land, Crystal. A rosary will recited 6 p.m., tonight, at the St. Berard Catholic Church.

Tullie died May 23, 2008, in Phoenix. She was born Nov. 14, 2007, in Fort Defiance.

Survivors include her mother, Chelmarie Jones; brothers, Brando, Joshua; sister, Harley; grandparents, Charles Jones, Peter Tullie, Sarah Naize.

Tullie was preceded in death by her father, Theodore Tullie; grandmother, Priscilla Begay; great-grandmother, Mary T. Begay.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Crystal Chapter House, following services.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Lafel Vann

GANADO — Services for Lafel S. Vann, 70, were 10 a.m., today at the Presbyterian Church, Ganado. Burial was in Community Cemetery, Ganado. Visitation was 9 a.m., one hour prior to service.

Vann died May 23, 2008, in Gallup. He was born Feb. 22, 1938, in Cornfields, into the Bitter Water People Clan for the Big Water People Clan.

Vann graduated from Ganado Mission, Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Northern Arizona University, Masters Degree in Education from University of New Mexico. He worked as a teacher from 1962-2003 in elementary education, assistant principal of Toyei School from 1980-1985, Greasewood B.I.A, Toyei B.I.A., Ganado Primary, Ganado School Board Member from 1979-1985 and retired from Ganado Primary. Vann was active in all Indian Rodeo Cowboys Association, Secretary, Treasurer, Timer, Native American Church Board of Director, in the early 70s to the 80s.

Survivors include his wife, Kathryn Vann of Ganado; daughters, Elaina Vann of Steamboat, Leah James of Ganado; brother, Jerry Vann of Fort Defiance; sisters, Ella Tsinnie of Tuba City, Charlotte Morris of Barstow, CA; four grandchildren.

Vann was preceded in death by his father, Sam Vann; mother, Sadie Wilson; sister, Violet Smith.
Pallbearers were family and friends.

Silver Creek Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.