Muriel Gene Cysouw

Gene was born June 26, 1941 in Sedgewick, Alberta. She was the only child of Harry and Mary Abbott. She loved Sedgewick and returned every summer to visit family and friends. She attended the University of Alberta in Edmonton and graduated with her Bachelors in Education in 1964. She taught in Sedgewick and in Edmonton.

She met her husband, Adriaan, in 1967. They were introduced by Gene’s aunt and Adriaan’s sister-in-law, who worked together. Adriaan had joined the U.S. Navy and was serving in Vietnam when they met. They corresponded while he was gone for almost 2 years. He proposed after returning from Vietnam in 1969. They were married December 20, 1969 in Sedgewick. It was a freezing cold day with several feet of snow on the ground. They had a dinner and dance after the ceremony with friends and family.

Soon after the wedding, Adriaan and Gene moved to Washington D.C., where Adriaan was stationed with the Navy. They loved their time spend in D.C. They lived in a lovely home with a pool and loved to play tennis. Gene’s parents visited and they were able to take them to the White House. Gene also continued to teach while in D.C.

Adriaan got orders for Argentia, Newfoundland in 1972 so they moved back to Canada. In the early part of 1973 they adopted their daughter, Kelly. In 1974, Michael, was adopted. Both Adriaan and Gene enjoyed the beautiful countryside of Newfoundland. But they had orders to move again in 1975 to Bremerton, WA. They lived in navy housing for almost a year before buying a house in Port Orchard in 1976.

Adriaan worked at both Bangor and PSNS during the next few years. In 1979 he was stationed in Diego Garcia where family was not allowed. Gene packed up the house, rented it out and moved back to Sedgewick with Kelly and Michael. They lived with her parents for a year. At the end of the year Adriaan had orders for Guam. So Gene and the kids flew to Guam to meet Adriaan there. They lived in Guam for two years. Finally in 1982 they returned to Port Orchard.

Gene began working at Orchard Heights as a paraeducator and worked there for 21 years. It was perfect for her because she didn’t drive and could walk to work each day. Adriaan retired from the Navy in 1986 and went to work in the shipyard. Every summer Gene and Adriaan would spend time in Sedgewick. After they both retired they started to go to Canada twice a year to visit family.
Gene was a very active member of St Bede’s Episcopal Church for 40 years. She taught Sunday School or helped in the nursery for 30 years. She also enjoyed helping with Family Kitchen for many years.

Gene loved her family and Christmas. She loved to spend time with her grandkids and would spend hours being dressed up or playing dolls or Play-Doh. Christmas was her favorite time of year and she loved to decorate her trees and had an impressive collection of snowmen. She loved to read Christmas stories and watch Christmas movies with her grandkids.

She didn’t let anything, not even cancer, stop her from spending time with family. She was a wonderful daughter, wife, mother and grandma. She had many life-long friends that she loved to have coffee with as well.

Gene is survived by her husband, children and their spouses, grandkids and friends and family in Canada.