Deaths

• Helena Bitsilly
• Mary Landavazo
• Virgil Teller
  

Helena Bitsilly

TOHATCHI — Funeral services for Helena Joyce Bitsilly, 72, will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 5, 2011, at the Tohatchi Pentecostal Church. Burial will follow at the family cemetery in Navajo. The Rev. Jerry Eastridge will officiate. Visitation will be held Friday, Aug. 5, 2011, from 9 to 10 a.m at the Tohatchi Pentecostal Church.

Bitsilly died July 31, 2011, in Albuquerque. She was born Sept. 17, 1938, in Rehoboth.
Bitsilly was a retired BIA dorm aide and was an active member of the Tohatchi Pentecostal Church.

Survivors include her husband Nelson Bitsilly, of Tohatchi; children Marvin Bitsilly of Gallup, Lee Bitsilly, of Tohatchi, Gerard Bitsilly, of Phoenix, Darrell Bitsilly of Gallup, Trisha Moore of Mexican Springs; sister Mary Ann Begay, of Gallup; 16 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her son Melvin Lester Bitsilly; parents Barney Begay and Evelyn Manuelito Begay; and grandchildren Natasha Amber Moore and Isaiah Lee Bitsilly
Pallbearers will be Todd Bitsilly, Michael Buntenbach, Marvin Bitsilly Jr., Darryl Cheschilly, Dustin Wilson, David Eastridge, Nelson Carl Bitsilly and Roger Begay.

Compassion Mortuary is in change of arrangements.

Mary Landavazo

PHOENIX — Mary Garcia Landavazo died Wednesday, July 27, 2011, in her son's home in Phoenix. She was born Dec. 8, 1924, in Gallup.
Landavazo was the daughter of Amado Garcia and Perfecta Torres of Garcia Ranch near Pinehaven, N.M. She was the last survivor of a family of 10 children.

Survivors include her daughters Elaine Debow, of Queen Valley, Ariz., and Evilia Jankowski, of Byron, Mich.; sons Henry Landavazo, of Mesa, Ariz., and Matthew Landavazo, of Phoenix; 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

andavazo was preceded in death by her husband Joseph Landavazo; parents Amado Garcia and Perfecta Torres; sisters Rosenda Montano, Jenny Garcia, Lourdes Olivar and Dolores Bigley; and brothers Benito Garcia, Amado Garcia, Henry Garcia, Manuel Garcia and Max Garcia.

As per Landavazo’s wishes there will be no services and a private family burial at the family cemetery on Garcia Ranch.

Virgil Teller

FORT DEFIANCE, Ariz. — Memorial services for Virgil Dean Teller, 40, will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 5, 2011, at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament church in Fort Defiance, Ariz. The Rev. Gilbert Schneider will officiate. A private burial will be in a family plot in Newcomb.

Teller died July 31, 2011, in Fort Defiance. He was born Jan. 13, 1971, in Fort Defiance into the Scatterwoods and Zuni Clans.

Teller was a self-employed and well-known Native flute artesian. His artistic works are known throughout the Southwest and internationally. Teller was a mentor and taught several of his friends and relatives the art of flute making. He created flutes for the Southwest Indian Foundation catalog, various indian art merchants, and sold to many of the customers of Earl’s Restaurant. Teller had many artisan friends and relatives. He was very friendly and ready to help anyone in need.
Survivors include his son Apollo Bitsuie, of Fort Defiance; daughter Kimberly Yazzie, of Fort Defiance; parents Marjorie and Vernon Teller, of Window Rock, Ariz.; brothers Gabriel Howard, of Fort Defiance, and Justin Hartley, of New River, N.Y.; and sister Vanessa Jackson, of Kayenta, Ariz. Teller was preceded in death by his grandparents Sarah and Fred Thompson Sr. and Hilda M. and Kent R. Teller.

The family will receive relatives and friends at 206 Shonto Blvd., Window Rock, after services.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.