Yolanda Estella Bazan

Yolanda Estella Bazan of Houston, Texas died April 29, 2012 of complications from Parkinson’s disease, surrounded by her family. Born, Yolanda Garza in Texas City in 1931, she moved to Houston and attended Stephen F Austin High School during which time she met Xavier Bazan. The couple was married on February 4, 1951, and raised 5 children, Gilda Bazan-Lopez, Xavier Bazan, Jr., Diana Bazan, Brenda Bazan and Bernard Bazan.

Yolanda and Xavier were devoted life partners, spirited dancing partners and avid traveling companions whose adventures took them from Europe to

Alaska, the Caribbean and Mexico. Yolanda was a skilled seamstress and flower arranger who sewed for the Sisters at Holy Ghost School, crafted decorative dolls for the Holy Ghost Bazaar and made each of her daughters’ prom dresses and even a wedding dress. Yolanda and Xavier were dedicated members of the Shriners where they worked to raise funds for the greeters and offered translation and support services at the organization’s hospital.

Yolanda touched the lives of many children through her teaching positions at St. Francis de Sales School, Briarwood School, Sutton Elementary and McDade Elementary.

Yolanda is survived by her husband of 61 years, three daughters, six grandchildren, Jason Marino, Gabriella Lopez, Victoria Lewis, Steven Marino, Olivia Lopez and Alex Lewis, three sons-in-law, Robert Lopez, Tom Wolf and Joe Merritt , two sisters, Becky Martinez and Alice Molina, one brother, Ray Garza, and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 7:00p.m., Tuesday, May 1st at Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home, 6700 Ferris St. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 2nd at Holy Ghost Catholic Church, 6921 Chetwood Dr. The Rite of Committal will follow at Earthman Resthaven Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Parkinson Foundation of Harris County, http://pfhc-sc.org/ or Shriners Hospital for Children, http://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/en.aspx