Obituary of Yolanda del Castillo

Yolanda Teresita del Castillo Bustos passed away on November 19, 2013 at her home in Fairfax, Va. of pancreatic cancer. She was surrounded by loved ones. The 75-year-old educator and linguist touched the minds and hearts of everyone she encountered. Yolanda was born on October 3, 1938 to Victor and Blanquita de del Castillo in Riobamba, the capital of the Chimborazo province in central Ecuador. She received her bachelor's degree from Pontifical Catholic University in Quito, Ecuador. She became well-traveled in college, completing several exchange programs and study abroad opportunities in Europe, most notably in France. She also spent time in New Mexico during high school. Her language proficiency extended to four languages beyond her native Spanish - English, French, Portuguese and Italian. Following the birth of her daughter Alexandra in 1975, Yolanda moved from Quito to Columbia, Md. Three years later, her son Christopher was born. The family lived briefly in Huntington Beach, Ca. before returning to the Northern Virginia area. In 1986, Yolanda began her career as a Spanish language instructor for the federal government. She produced and administered immersion programs designed to help students become proficient in Spanish. Her specialties within her lessons included teaching her students how to master vernacular, grammar, regional dialects and slang. She advanced her career and garnered top secret clearance within the government. In 2003, she retired from the government and worked for a large consulting firm until two months prior to her death. Yolanda was very proud of her family and took great joy in her time spent with them. She shared a very special relationship with her grandson Daniel, who was born in 1994. Christopher married Renee in 2005, marking one of the happiest days of Yolanda's life. She was a devout Catholic and a founding member and parishioner of St. Veronica Catholic Church in Chantilly, Va. Her incredible faith and devotion to God allowed her to touch and transform the lives of her family, friends, fellow parishioners and clergy. Her connection with God gave her great strength throughout her life, especially as a 14-year breast cancer survivor. Her altruistic spirit, lessons and grace will live on in the eternal Kingdom of God and in the hearts of all whom she met. Yolanda is preceded in death by her parents, brother Victor del Castillo, sister Norma del Castillo, aunts Madre Cecilita and Madre Rosita, and uncle Xavier. She is survived by her children Alexandra and Christopher Mendez, her daughter-in-law Renee Mendez and her grandson Daniel Mendez. She is also survived by siblings Guillermo (Gloria) del Castillo and Luis (Maria) del Castillo, aunt Anita Bustos, cousins Patricio, Mariana, Manuel and Sarita, nieces and nephews Rosa, Mauricio, Norma, Veronica, Ximena, Susana, Maria Luisa, Guillermo, Gabriela, Lorena, Luis Andres, as well as 11 great-nieces and nephews.