Services for Cecilia Mae Dessellier
Wed, 09/21/2022 - 10:06am
admin
Cecilia Mae Dessellier was born December 15, 1929, in Brooks, Minnesota (MN), Red Lake County to parents Andrew & Alexina (Carriers) Dessellier. Better known as Sis, she was baptized on December 23, 1929. Father Victor Cardin conducted the ceremony and godparents were Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Asselin. On June 14, 1942, Sis was confirmed at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Oklee, Mn. In 1945 on November 16, Sis committed her life in marriage to Selmer Christianson in Oklee, Mn. They were married by Reverand J.K. Lerohl at the Zion Lutheran Parsonage. In 1950, they had their marriage blessed by Father K. Patnode in the St. Francis Xavier Parsonage. Selmer and Sis celebrated 50 years of marriage in 1995 and Father Duane Pribula and Reverend Rolf Wenberg officiated over the renewal of their vows.
Selmer and Sis had four children, Larry (wife Alice), Judy (Husband Wendell Webster), Loretta (Husband Dwight Heuer), and Henry (Mary Christianson). There are eighteen grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Sis is the 5th child of a family of 17 children and her parents were Andrew and Alexina Dessellier. Living brothers are Gene and Vincent. Sisters are, Joyce Tougas and Mae Sunsdahl. She has many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by Selmer Christianson (Husband), Larry Christianson (Son), Henry Christianson (Son); infant brother, Onazine, Paul, Alex, George, Lewis, and Ernest; sisters are Rosalie Demaris, Geraldine Dessellier, Marie Hruby, Dola Bakken, Carol Haugan, and Marie Logan; grandson John Christianson, son-in-law Charles Reitmeire.
Sis left home at an early age for baby sitting and attending school in Oklee. While working out, she also learned the switch board for the telephone company, Garden Valley Telephone Company. In 1945, she worked for Garden Valley for 9 months and again in 1952. Later she was employed at Groberg Sewing, Arctic Cat Incorporated and later, for Lady Slipper. In 1990-1991, Sis and Selmer also kept a great granddaughter, Cassie Williams because her mother served in the military and sent oversees to Saudi.
Sis moved to Good Samaritan Assisted Living, Fargo, ND in 2012. She volunteered her time with Project Linus and sewed 1,000 quilt tops. Project Linus is a non-profit organization that provides new handmade blankets to children in need. Sis was very proud of her work for Project Linus and would spend hours cutting material and arranging the blocks for beautiful quilt tops. When she completed the 1,000-quilt top, she was honored with a party with family and friends and her work was acknowledged in the Fargo Forum.
Another hobby of Sis’ was to spend Sunday afternoon listening to music and writing letters to friends and family at a distance. Her letters read like stories of events that happened around home.
Cecilia “Sis” Christianson, 92 of Oklee, MN passed away on Sunday, September 18, 2022 at St Catherine South, Fargo, ND.
Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM with the Mass of Christian Burial to be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, September 23, 2022 at St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Oklee, MN with Father John Christianson, celebrant and Father Bryan Kujawa, concelebrant. Burial will follow at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Oklee, MN.
Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com