Marihelen Ciesiel, 73, a longtime Baker City resident, died Jan. 13, 2008, at The Cottages in Weiser, Idaho.
Marihelen’s vigil/wake was Wednesday night at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated today at the cathedral. Internment was at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Marihelen was born on April 26, 1934, at Nocona, Texas, to Freda Wilton and Emmett Williamson. She was raised in Los Alamos, N.M., before it was an official town. She graduated from Los Alamos High School and went on to college at the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque, where she met Robert F. Ciesiel.
They were married on Feb 24, 1952, at Bernililio, N.M. Starting a young family, the couple lived at Texas, Four Corners area of the desert southwest, Grand Junction, Colo., Portland and moved to Baker City in 1962.
Marihelen taught P.E. at St. Francis Academy and was active at St. Francis Cathedral. She taught Sunday school/youth groups, was a Eucharist minister, and served as a lector. She was an active participant in a spiritual wolf pack.
Marihelen was a fiber artist, using many mediums, especially weaving, knitting and spinning using wool garnered from their sheep farm. Many area school children learned about spinning and weaving through her presentations in the schools.
Marihelen also performed living history reenactments at the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, Emigrant Springs State Park, schools and other venues.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.
Survivors include her sister, Betty Peterson; her six children, Tina Kitchin, Michael Ciesielski and Paula, Pam Hosseini and Jamshid, Amy Ross and Terry, Obie Ciesiel and Erin Watterson, and Emily Ciesielski and Ryan McMurry; her 12 grandchildren, David Beam and Wendy, Michael Beam and Erin, Nema, Arman, Sheila Hosseini, Anna, Thomas Ciesielski, Carla Kitchin, Hailey Kay, Jye Ciesiel, Jordan, Reghan Ciesielski) Marchek; and her six great-grandchildren, Beckham Beam, Brady, Brooklyn Beam, Dalli, Sophia Ross and newborn baby, Jack Ross.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, January 17, 2008
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor