Josephine H. Vavages

CHUICHU — Josephine H. Vavages, 70, of ChuiChu died Sept. 13, 2009 at Casa Grande Regional Medical Center.

The wake will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Vavages home. Ma�anitas will be sung at 5 a.m. Friday. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 6 a.m. Friday at St. Augustine Catholic Church by the Rev. Ignatius DeGroot. Burial will be in ChuiChu North Cemetery.

Mrs. Vavages was born June 10, 1939 in Ajo and was a daughter of Francisco and Mercedes Ortega. She was a home health aide for the Tohono O’odham Nation for 28 years. She was active in the ChuiChu elderly program and sang in a Tohono O’odham choir. She loved to dance and also enjoyed helping people and going to casinos. She especially enjoyed being with her grandchildren.

Survivors include a daughter, Grace M. Johns; three sons, Alex, Peter and Bennett Vavages Jr.; two sisters, Margaret Vega and Virginia Celaya; three brothers, Raymond Salcido, Leonard Ortega and Juan Victors; 12 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bennett Vavages Sr., and a son, Gerald T. Miguel.

J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud The Gardens Chapel is in charge of arrangements.