Isabel Bell Avila Haulman

Bell has left us to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Bell was known and loved by many. Bell is preceded in death by her husband, Wayne R. Haulman; her parents, John and Amelia Vigil; her son Roger Chris Avila; and her great granddaughter Jaylene Marez.

Isabel was affectionately known as Ms. Bell while she worked at Alamosa Elementary School as a teachers’ aide for many years where her smile, love and sense of humor affected everyone.  She then worked at Coronado School as an office aide. In 1991 Bell was diagnosed with Acute Promyelo Cytic Leukemia and underwent chemo therapy. In 1992 she relapsed and received a bone morrow transplant at Fred Hutchison Cancer Center, in Seattle, Washington.  Bell spent many painful hours with chemo and radiation treatments at the hospital.  Bell was released to recover with further treatments at home in New Mexico.  In 1993 Bell relapsed again and went to the Tucson Cancer Center in Tuscon, Arizona for stem cell transfusions.  They were successful and Bell remained Cancer free until her passing. In 1994 she was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor to be monitored. In 2013, while visiting in California with her sister, Mary, she was operated on and as much of the tumor was removed; with no guarantees that it would not return. But it did, and that made a difference in her life. She suffered with cancer; undiagnosed diabetes (she lost her eyesight); and a brain tumor; she lost her coordination, her speech, her cognitivity and the ability to drive and enjoy activities that she had previously loved to do with her grandchildren.  In 2021 Bell had a bad fall at her home and was hospitalized with rehab and lived with her sister Anna and her husband Gabe for the last two years, five months of her life. Bell was a SAINT throughout all her illnesses and difficulties. 

Our Bell is survived by her sons: Ruben, Larry and wife Michele, and Manny and wife Anita; 8 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Her sisters Vicky Deer, Mary Gabaldon and Anna Vigil Lopez, and numerous nieces, nephews cousins and friends.

Services: December 12th, 2023 at St. Anthony Catholic Church, also known as San Antonio Mission Church located at 1531 Los Lentes Rd. NE, Los Lunas, NM 87031; Viewing at 9 am, rosary at 9:30 am, Mass at 10 am.  Burial will proceed directly after services to Santa Fe National Cemetery.