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Beloved member of Parkrose family succumbs to rare cancer
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Christy Sundin Sepich died last month after a brief battle with a rare cancer.
COURTESY KYLIE SEPICH
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Christy Lynn (Sundin) Sepich was born May 16, 1971 to Vern and Cheryl Sundin. Christy passed away Feb. 4, 2014, from cancer. She was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma in January, a cancer so rare in adults that her body was donated to Oregon Health & Science University for study and to help find a cure. She leaves behind husband, Tim; daughter, Kylie; parents, Vern and Londa; brother, Jeff; sister, Carlea; mother, Cheryl; and many loving relatives. Christy lived her entire life in the Parkrose area of Portland and graduated from Parkrose High School in 1989. She played softball with Parkrose Little League and was on the high school golf team. She also spent her middle and high school years playing flute with the Parkrose band. In high school, Christy worked as a hostess at the Holland Restaurant. Later, she worked as a data analyst at Freightliner and, most recently, as a senior data analyst at Daimler Trucks North America. Christy prioritized her family, and there are a multitude of happy memories spent with her large extended family. She also considered the Parkrose community to be her family and spent a lot of time supporting kids' music and sports programs in the area. On July 1, 1995, she married the love of her life, Tim, and on her birthday, May 16, 2000, they welcomed Kylie Elane Sepich into the world. Christy took five years away from work to raise Kylie, and later worked part time as an educational assistant at Kylie's school, Russell Academy. Christy, Tim and Kylie shared a love of animals and have provided a home for cats, birds, fish, guinea pigs, rabbits and others. The three of them loved to travel together and recently spent time in Washington, D.C., New York City and Disneyland.
Parkrose friends and family filled the Parkrose High Theater Sunday, Feb. 23 to share remembrances and to celebrate Christy's life. The Rev. Charlie Ross offered prayers; musical tributes were performed by Michael Allen Harrison, the Parkrose High Debonaires and Adam Moultrie and Mario Zivanovic. Kylie Sepich and Halle Vogelpohl performed a dance number. A message in the program reminded those in attendance that “Christy would want us all to be good listeners, to love one another and to cherish every day. To show compassion and be thankful for everyone and everything God gives us.”
In lieu of flowers and other gifts, the family has requested donations to the Oregon Humane Society (oregonhumane.org or 503-416-2989), OHSU's Keller Laboratory for rhabdomyosarcoma research (kellerlab.blogspot.com or OHSU attention Caitlin Wilson, Suite 100, 1121 S.W. Salmon St., Portland, OR 97205) or to a college fund for Kylie Sepich (Kylie Sepich OUTMA at any Chase branch).
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