FAMILY FUN – Crystal Johns holds her son Zayne , 2, as she follows her son Ezekiel, 4, up an inflatable slide Saturday at Xoots Elementary School during the annual Spring Carnival. The event included games, prizes, cotton candy, and karaoke. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
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Sentinel Staff Writer
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Sentinel Staff Writer
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Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
April 17
At 9:08 a.m. a transformer was r [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
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By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
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By Sentinel Staff
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Sentinel Sports Editor
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Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
April 16
At 8:07 a.m. a woman [ ... ]
Presentation On
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Sentinel Staff Writer
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Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee expanded a [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS and
CLAIRE STREMPLE
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A protective order was issued at 1 [ ... ]
Chamber Speaker
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The Chamber of Commerce speaker series will continue noon Wednesday at [ ... ]
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Sentinel Staff Writer
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Daily Sitka Sentinel
Evelyn Jean Cici
Evelyn Jean Cici
Early Saturday morning, January 6, Evelyn Jean Cici was taken home by the Lord. She drifted off to sleep and died peacefully with her daughter by her side, in her Sitka home.
She was 77.
She was born July 18, 1940, in Sitka, the daughter of Florence (Hayes) and Harold Donnelly. She graduated from Sitka High in 1958. She married Angelo Cici in December 1958 and lived in California until returning to Sitka in 1972, after their divorce.
As a very young adult, Evelyn was diagnosed with mental illness, and she struggled every day. Longtime use of one medication caused permanent damage to her kidneys and 10 years ago was at stage five of renal failure. She rejected dialysis, which would have meant leaving Sitka, and once was given no more than two years to live.
Despite the odds against her, she not only survived renal failure but many bouts of pneumonia, infections, a fractured hip, breast cancer, Parkinson’s and a host of other physical ailments.
But she was a fighter, and amazed doctors and others at her resilience and strength. She always had faith that tomorrow would be a better day.; it always was for her.
“We will miss her big beautiful smile, a gift straight from her heart,” her family said. “She was so loving and gave to those around her.”
Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Harold ”Bunny” Donnelly; and two granddaughters, Kahana Smisek and Charissa Cici.
Surviving are her daughter, Angela Smisek of Silverado, Calif.; sons Joe Cici of Temecula, Calif., and Kelly Cici of Van Nuys, Calif.; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
A remembrance service is planned for early spring. It will be announced later.
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20 YEARS AGO
April 2004
Photo caption: Sen. Lisa Murkowski talks with students in Karoline Bekeris’ fourth-grade class Thursday at the Westmark Shee Atika. From left are Murkowski, Kelsey Boussom, Laura Quinn and Memito Diaz.
50 YEARS AGO
April 1974
A medley of songs from “Jesus Christ Superstar” will highlight the morning worship service on Palm Sunday at the United Methodist Church. Musicians will be Paige Garwood and Karl Hartman on guitars; Dan Goodness on organ; and Gayle Erickson on drums.