Geraldine J. Talgo was born November 9, 1950 at the San Carlos Hospital and entered eternal rest February 21, 2018 at Mount Vista Medical Center, Mesa, Arizona.
She is survived by her son Philson Kee Benally Jr (Rosie) of Morenci, AZ; her daughter Donna K. Benally of Gilson Wash; her companion Kenard Dillon of Gilson Wash; her sisters Gloria J. Pechuli-Smith of Farmington, New Mexico and Lorraine Talgo Rodriquez of Bylas, AZ; four grandsons: Justus Benally, Emmanuel Benally, Isaiah Wesley, and Philson Benally III and one granddaughter Tylee Rose Benally.
Gerri also has four goddaughters through Apache traditional Ceremony, Viola Dosela, Victoria Belvado, Kayleen Holmes, Fawn Martin; and numerous nephews and nieces.
She is preceded in death by her mother Rosalie Pechuli Talgo and her dad Earl Talgo, and maternal grandparents Julian and Edna Savage Pechuli, her paternal grandparents Nona Zaye Talgo and John Talgo.
Gerri attended Peridot Lutheran Mission School in Peridot, AZ; East Fork Mission in Whiteriver, AZ; Haskell Junior College, in Lawrence KS and Lamson Business School in Phoenix, AZ.
She was a medical secretary with San Carlos Indian Health Services, transferred to Phoenix Indian Medical Center as medical surgeon secretary. She worked for Bureau of Indian Affairs San Carlos Agency as Civilian Payroll Technician. After 43 years of government service she was employed as a secretary with Titla & Parsi Law Firm in Globe, Arizona.
She was a single mother of two and instilled that you have to work hard to make a living and not depend on anyone. Always work for what you want in life and not expect just anything to be handed to you.
Over the years she was a choir leader for San Carlos Miracle Church and World Evangelism Revival Center, and traveled throughout the country with her church group.
Gerri had a big heart and was a very humble person. She was always giving, and gave with everything; she was one to give her last dollar and not worry about herself.
She worked and traveled with Type1 and Type 2 Fire teams and a FEMA team as a time Unit leader/comps and claims unit leader On a fire assignment in Alaska they were in a safe area, but the wind shifted so they had to get into another location. The Alaskan crew came to help her but they were very short people and she felt like she was in the movie Willie Wonka with the “oopa loopas” clearing out her campsite.
In Puerto Rico she stood on the beaches and said “I am the real Caribbean Queen” She even went as far as the North Pole and said she had wished she would’ve hand delivered her grandson Isaiah’s letter to Santa.
Geraldine has traveled and done many things in her life that many of us will never do. She lived a full life of happiness with no regrets. She prayed for everyone and wanted the best for everyone. Let us remember her laughter and remember her kindness.
Thank you for sharing her last day with us here. God Bless.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, March 4, 2018 at the World Evangelism Revival Center in San Carlos, AZ.
Assisting the family Lamont Mortuary of Globe.
