Gina Lucille (Chicilli) Hart, age 52, passed away in South Boardman on Sun, Mar 21, 2010, with her family by her side, after courageously battling cancer for two years.
Born on Jul 2, 1957 in Flint, MI, she was the daughter of Louis and Bonnie (Fields) Chicilli. She married Terry Len Hart on Jul 2, 1981, Gina's 24th birthday. Together they shared over 28 years of marriage.
Gina graduated from Flushing High School in 1975 and then went on to graduate from Cosmetology School in 1976, becoming a licensed beautician.
Gina met and married Terry in Flint, while living in Flushing until moving up north in 1993. After moving to northern Michigan, she attended classes to become a certified examined nurse's assistant. She put that to great use at Kalkaska Memorial Heath Center in the Long Term Care Unit until take a a permanent medical leave in May 2009. While there, she was an angel to all the residents and always put a smile on her colleagues' faces whenever given the chance.
She loved her job and everyone there, and hated to leave. Gina also worked at Wayne Wire Cloth Products in Kalkaska for four years, a place where she also made even more friends. A special thanks to all her friends from KMHC-LTC who recently helped care for her.
She was known for her big smiles, upbeat attitude, and dressing up for every holiday. She enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren, as well as her extended family. She enjoyed baking, gardening, holiday cookouts, and socializing with her cherished friends. She could always be seen with chocolate milk or Coca Cola and M&M's. Above all else, her grandchildren were her pride and joy! She was an amazing person and a wonderful friend to all who crossed her path.
Gina was undoubtedly a fighter. What she lacked in height she made up for in willpower. while undergoing numerous chemotherapy and radiation treatments, she bravely defeated five cancers in two years, until ultimately losing to the sixth while also battling pneumonia. Even in her final days she never gave up on her fight an act that her family strongly admires.
Gina is survived by her husband, Terry of South Boardman; children, Lisa Hart of Fife Lake, Laura (Matt) Smith of South Boardman, and Scott Hart of Mount Pleasant and South Boardman; step daughter, Janel Garza of Grand Blanc; her parents, Louis and Bonnie Chicilli of Mount Pleasant; mother in law, Ellen Hart of Fife Lake; six grandchildren, Jessica, Clarissa, Caleb, Domenic, Cara, and Carly; siblings Danielle (the late Ed) Fry of Grand Blanc, and John Chicilli of Mount Pleasant; as well as many extended family members.
She was preceded in death by her special friend, Lynn Plainer (10/21/69); brother in law, Ed Fry (10/1/05); niece, Corbon Fry (10/1/81); and father in law, Fred Hart (10/15/08).
Visitation will take place Tue, Mar 23, 2010, from 1 to 8 pm with a 7 pm scripture service at Wolfe-O'Neill Funeral Home in Kalkaska.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 am Wed, Mar 24 with visitation one hour prior at St Mary of the Woods Catholic Church in Kalkaska.
