Zanagoliche Benally

Zanagoliche Virginia Benally, 69 years old, of Mescalero, NM passed away on to a better place free of pain and suffering on December 8, 2024, in Ruidoso, NM. Virginia was born on January 6, 1955, to Kee Benally and Angeline Bigmouth in Mescalero, NM.

Virginia was a mother to two sons, Alvin Benally and Percy Benally and daughter, Drusilla Tsinnijinnie. They blessed her with her grandchildren, Faith Benally, Madeliene Benally, Gage Tsinnijinnie and Hunter Benally.

Virginia was predeceased by her maternal grandparents, Alberta Simms Begay and Bradley Bigmouth, her parents, Kee Benally and Angeline Bigmouth, her bother Myron Dechilly, her sisters Carol Ann Dechilly and Hariett Dechilly, her daughter Drusilla Tsinnijinnie and numerous relatives. She is survived by sons, Alvin Benally and Percy Benally, her grandchildren Faith, Madeliene, Gage and Hunter, her brothers, Simon Simms Sr., and Harold Dechilly, her sisters, Karen Geronimo and Alberta Dechilly, lifelong companion, Thomas Tsinnijinnie and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and their family.

Virginia worked for the Mescalero Apache tribe for over 50 years in various departments and had recently retired in July 2024. In her own words, she considered herself a jack of all trades. She also served the Mescalero community as a revered medicine woman who sponsored numerous maidens in their Coming-of-Age ceremony, she prayed for many and helped guide many through their troubled times. She was asked many times to teach the children of our community on the practices of harvesting mother nature's gift used in traditional Apache medicine and teaching their meaning to the Apache people. She cherished these times spent with the younger generation. In her younger years, she loved to spend her time outdoors gathering firewood, hunting, fishing and gathering traditional medicines. Most of all she loved to shower her family and close friends with her big, long hugs, loving affection, long talks filled with advice and sending text messages to check on how you were doing.

Services will be held in Mescalero, NM. December 13th the Rosary Service and All Night Vigil will begin at 7pm at St. Joseph's Apache Mission. December 14th at Sunrise a Gravesite Service will be held at the Mescalero Cemetery. A reception will follow at noon at the Mescalero Community Center gym. The family would be honored to have you be present to celebrate the life of our mother, aunt and grandmother.