Gina Sue Cyza

Gina Sue (Opsahl) Cyza was born July 4, 1974 in Rochester, Minnesota to Lindsay and Mary (Percuoco) Opsahl. She grew up in Ankeny, Iowa, where she attended Northwest Grade School before graduating from Ankeny High School in 1992. She went on to receive her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA in 1996, achieved her 2nd Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska in Omaha in May 2003, and had recently completed work on her Master’s degree in Education in 2015. As a young girl, Gina enjoyed singing and was active in choir. Gina married Christopher Cyza on July 6, 2002 at St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Omaha, Nebraska, and to the couple, two children were born; Claire on April 15, 2004, and Quinn on March 28, 2011. The family has made their home in Omaha. Gina worked as a kindergarten teacher at Westridge Elementary School for the Elkhorn Public School District since August 2003. Reading and running were Gina’s two favorite hobbies. She participated in book clubs, and ran numerous races, earning several medals. She loved all kinds of music, the color pink, UNI, Iowa and Nebraska sports, and a night out for Sushi and a margarita or beers. Gina was proud of her marriage, and the family she shared with Chris, her friends, her career, and her alma mater, UNI. She will be remembered as a brave, loving, selfless woman, who was a bit of a comedian, and had a knack for storytelling. She never complained that she had cancer, and she was NOT a quitter. Most of all, please remember how genuinely she cared for her family, her friends, and her students. Gina died on May 22, 2015 at the Hospice House in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 40 years, 10 months, and 18 days. She was preceded in death by her grandparents; Neva (2/13) & Clinton (5/06) Opsahl, Felix (4/81) & Betty (8/12) Percuoco, and stepgrandfather Arnold Onstad. Gina is survived by her husband Chris, children; Claire (11) and Quinn (4), and parents Lindsay and Mary Opsahl all of Omaha. Gina S. Cyza, age 40, of Omaha, died 5-22-15. Preceded in death by grandparents; Neva & Clinton Opsahl, Felix & Betty Percuoco, and stepgrandfather Arnold Onstad. Survived by husband Chris, children; Claire (11) and Quinn (4), and parents Lindsay and Mary Opsahl of all of Omaha. Funeral Mass 10:30 AM Tuesday, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Elkhorn. Interment at a later date. Visitation with the family from 3-5 PM Monday at the church with a Wake service at 5 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Project Purple or the Hospice House

Gina Sue Cyza

July 4, 1974 - May 22, 2015