Wellsville, NY - Cecilia “Cis” Mae (Harmon) Gasdik, 85, of Wellsville, NY passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, January 31, 2016. She was born on October 30, 1930 in Gloucester, Massachusetts to Leo William and Gertrude Frances (Roach) Harmon. On February 6, 1954 at St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church in Gloucester, Massachusetts, she married Joseph Gasdik, who predeceased her on 6 December 1983.
Cis graduated from Gloucester High School in 1948 and met her beloved husband of 30 years in Washington D.C., where she worked as a lab technician and medical assistant. Her husband worked for the Central Intelligence Agency for 28 years…an occupation that brought the young couple and their new family to live in some of the world’s most exotic and distant countries. Their first home was in Hua Hin and Bangkok, Thailand from 1954 to 1956. After a brief stay in Arlington, VA, they were assigned to live in Cherat, West Pakistan in 1956. Three years later, they were brought back to Arlington, VA for a few months of debriefing at the CIA. The young couple, now with four children in tow, were sent for a brief stay in Miami, FL in 1960, where they survived the Category Five Hurricane Donna. Later in 1960, they were reassigned to live in a little known corner of the world called Saigon, South Vietnam. In March of 1964, as the Vietnam War continued to escalate, Cis and her six children were evacuated from Saigon. They went to live with her mother in Cis’ hometown of Gloucester, MA until her husband returned from Saigon later that December. After a brief stay in Silver Springs, MD the family was transferred to Tehran, Iran in July 1965. The Gasdik family lived in Tehran for seven years, until July of 1972, when they moved to the United States permanently. In January of 1973 they moved their family for the last time… to her husband’s hometown of Wellsville, NY.
Cis Gasdik was in every respect and possible expression of the word, a people person. She was quick to laugh, and friends were truly meant to be cherished and loved for life. She enjoyed being seated in restaurants where she could have a clear view of all of her friends as they came and left the restaurant. It usually made for some long dinners in town. Sundays in the fall were sacred… for watching football; especially her beloved New England Patriots and the Tehran American School Vikings.
While living in Tehran, Cis was known as “The Story Lady” on the Melvin the Clown Show, a children’s show on the AFRTS television network. She also worked at the ARMISH-MAAG Library at Gulf District, owned and operated a Day Care Center with her long-time friends Delta Mansoor and Mina Sami-Sami. She was a member of the American Women’s Club and the British Women’s Club in Tehran also.
In Wellsville, she worked as phlebotomist at Jones Memorial Hospital for 19 years. She was also a member of the Wellsville Lioness Club, the Hemlock Twig, and an officer for the Jones Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church of Wellsville Altar and Rosary Society and the Altar and Rosary Society of St. Joseph’s Church in Scio. She was a passionate bridge player, and above all else, she dearly loved spending time with all of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Cecilia H. Gasdik is survived by her son, Nicholas (Kandis) Gasdik of Provo, UT; daughters Margaret (Paul) Salafia of Andover, MA, Madeleine Gasdik of Wellsville, Patricia Gasdik of Olean, Elizabeth Gasdik Reed of Eldred, PA, and Monti Gasdik (James) Crowley of Olean. She is also survived by granddaughters Katherine Gasdik of Fredonia and Jocelyn Crowley of Olean; grandsons Lieutenant Patrick Hennessy, USMC, Joshua Gasdik of Olean, Sean Hennessy of Melbourne, Australia, Luke Hennessy of Olean, Joseph Reed of Eldred PA; and stepsons Paul (Kelly) Salafia of Andover, MA and David (Laura) Salafia of Newton, MA. She is also survived by her great grandchildren Aylin Cecilia and Drew Pesicek of Fredonia, Kalem Gasdik of Olean, NY, and great step-grandchildren Sadie Grace, Gus, and Max Salafia of Andover, MA, and Jack and Danny Salafia of Newton, MA.
Friends are invited to call on Friday (February 5, 2016) from 2-4 and from 7-9PM at the J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home, 34 W. State Street in Wellsville. The Altar and Rosary Society will gather to pray the rosary on Friday at 4PM at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Immaculate Conception Church in Wellsville, NY at 11AM on Saturday (February 6, 2016). Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Wellsville. Memorials can be made to the Jones Memorial Auxiliary or a charity of the donor’s choice. To leave online condolences please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.
