Virginia Tom

Virginia Daisy Tom (1958-2021)

Our beautiful and beloved sister, aunt, grandma, and friend walked on after three years of failing health, on May 11, 2021. She is now at peace. Her clans were Naakai Dine’e, Bit’ahnii,

Kinlichii’nii, and Tachii’nii.

Virginia was known as Daiz to family and Verge to friends. She was born in Shiprock and grew up in Beclabito. She loved living on the Rez and was very happy to return recently to her childhood playground. She had many fond memories and loved to share stories of her childhood while helping grandparents and parents with animal care at home, farm work in Gadi’ahi’, and sheep camp in the Carrizo Mountain. She attributed what she was taught in her formative years to have given her guidance, discipline and respect throughout her adult life and professional career.

Daiz graduated from Shiprock High School then attended Saint Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City, KS where she earned a biology degree. She often joked about how she moved so far from home when she had never left home before and wasn’t comfortable speaking the English language 24/7. But she made friends easily both on and off campus. While there, she befriended the Sandoval family who accepted her as one of their own; she cherished them as life-long friends and family.

In 1988, she was certified as a medical technologist in Kansas City after which she returned to Shiprock Indian Health Service (IHS) where she worked in the laboratory for 5 years.  She then enrolled in and completed the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program at the University of Utah, 1993-1996. As a primary care provider, she worked for the IHS and the Veterans Administration (VA) systems. She worked in a Texas VA clinic before retiring and returning to the Rez in 2018.

Daiz loved her extended family very much and was always there to help those who needed it. She was known for her generosity, humor, and hard work. She loved her nieces and nephews and wanted to see them grow up, get educated, and become self-sufficient and productive adults. She was so proud among some professions they chose are chef, dietitian, accountant, medical technologist, computer expert, veterinarian, physician, etc. She always looked forward to annual summer gatherings of her clan sisters, “To’aheedlii’ni Saani,” who shared the gift of laughter, stories, song, k’eh, and just plain sisterhood.

She is survived by brothers Pat, Herb (Laura), Wallace (Flora), David and Harrison; sister Lillian (Jim); sister-in-law Karen, and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces. She adored her little “grandkids” and was known as Choe Daiz to Desbah and Ashkii; as Naali to Seri, Trent, Sage, and Leah; and as Grandma Daiz to Zella and Sibbie. She is also survived by Best Friends Forever (Alene Speight, Chris Sandoval, Rosie Begay) and her beloved dog and protector Penny aka Schwodo.

Her parents (Jean and Herbert), brothers Ben and Walter, nephew Sgt .Troy, and sister-in-law Carolyn preceded her in death. We will miss her very much. We thank all those who have participated in her care, offered prayers, and shared words of encouragement.