Ariela Starr Vendiola

Our bright shining star blessed us with her birth on August 19, 1999 in Bellingham Washington. She lived in Bellingham and Marysville but spent most of her life on the Tulalip Indian Reservation. Enrolled in the Southern Cheyenne Tribe of Oklahoma, she carried the Indian name of “He’doh’geh” which translated means Star Woman. A descendent of the great Cheyenne Chief Black Kettle, she is loved by many near and far. She traveled every year to dance in Native American gatherings including her Plains Indian way of pow wow. She represented her family in a beautiful way as a very accomplished and graceful fancy shawl dancer and wore her regalia with a high level of pride and happiness. She would often proclaim that she feels the safest while at the pow wows. While there she would embrace herself with the cultural teachings and practices. She brought pride and joy to her family where ever she danced.

“Arie” was to be a Junior at Marysville-Pilchuck High School and was planning to enroll in college. She always said that, “I want to have a career that allows me to take care of my mother, father, and grandparents.” She loved cats and dogs especially her pit pull puppy named “Rex” for whom she called “Baby Boy”. She loved socializing and meeting new people and called her close friends her sisters or brothers. She had a strong and beautiful heart—always expressing her love for her mother and father and never leaving without saying, “I love you…” even if she was just going to another room at home.

She is survived by her mother and father, Monica and Randy Vendiola; her grandmother and grandfather, LeeAnna and Dan Moses; Grandmother, Diane Vendiola; two brothers, Richard and Randy, Jr.; Sister, Selena; uncles Michael, Rudy, Richard, Danny, Carnagie; Aunts, Shelly, Michelle; cousins, Docovie, Michaela, Melchor, and uncles and aunts, Danny (Morales) Toby, Reuben, Yolanda, Carment and Mercedes, and cousins.

Her grandfather, Rodolfo Vendiola, precedes her in death.

Arie will be brought home on August 25, 2015 for final time with family at home.

The family extends an invitation to attend interfaith services to celebrate Ariela’s life. 6:00 PM on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 at the Greg Williams Court/Tulalip Tribal Gymnasium, and also Catholic funeral services on Thursday, August 27, 2015 at 10:00 AM in the same facility.

Arrangements under the direction of Schaefer-Shipman Funeral Home, Marysville, WA.