Cassiopeia Grace Tichy

Cassiopeia Grace Tichy, 18, passed away on Sunday, 20/May/18, at her father's home in Valle Vista (East Hemet, CA), due to complications in her lungs and other organs, after a courageous three year battle with Ewing's Sarcoma.

Cassi was born in the morning of New Year's Eve 1999 at the local Hemet hospital. She attended Valle Vista Elementary, Dartmouth Middle School, and graduated (with highest honors) from Hemet High in May 2017.

She enjoyed school and was active her Senior year in Theater, Chamber Singers, Varsity Tennis (team manager), and felt deeply honored to receive several awards and scholarships, including Student of the Year.

Gracious, Generous, and Brave are three words that aptly describe Cassi as she fought to live, and beat the horrible disease of cancer!

Often she was the face of blood drives (LifeStream and San Diego Blood Bank), to promote awareness to the importance of giving this "gift of life". She had received over 50 units of blood and platelets during the months of chemo, and was grateful to each donor who had saved her life!

She also donated several pieces of artwork, created buttons with her art, as well as murals at her high school.

Cassi never went anywhere without her sketchbook!

Her passion was art, with an amazing talent that emerged at age 2, and skillfully evolved throughout the following years. She used pencil, copic pens, and digital mediums for her creations of fan art and originals.

She had plans to attend college and pursue a career in illustration but after graduation, the cancer began to spread rapidly.

Sadly, those dreams went unfulfilled, and we are left to only imagine WHAT she would have accomplished as an illustrator!

Her gift was appreciated and enjoyed by many, a fact confirmed by the nearly 3,000 Instagram followers (@celestialcitrus), as well as family and friends who marveled at her creativity.

In addition to drawing, her other hobbies included spending quality time with family and friends, attending art conventions (Anime Expo, Wonder Con, and Comic Con), going to movies, kicking butt on video games (Overwatch), travel (Austria, Canada, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, and New York), tennis, and loving on the 5 family cats (her calico, CaliTonks, remained a favorite).

Cassi is survived by Ellen Tichy (mother), Ron Wales (father), Alena Vaccarino (sister) of Hemet; Devon Vaccarino (brother) of Los Angeles; Nancy Tichy (grandmother) of Homeland; Helen Wales, (grandmother) of Hemet; plus Tante Betty Trobisch (Austria), Aunt Valerie Tichy-Drummer (Hemet), Uncle/Aunt Jon & Keri Tichy (Temecula) and their families (9 cousins); and many other beloved extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by Frank C. Tichy Jr. (grandfather).

Cassi's exceptional creativity, strength, courage, quiet inspiration, radiant blue eyes and contagious smile, and genuine love for those in her life will be cherished, and always missed, every moment of the day!

Named after the constellation, Cassiopeia, she continues to "shine bright" in our hearts and memories...

Celebration of life: Private

Instead of flowers, memorial donations are requested for the following fundraisers:

www.youcaring.com/HOPE4shinebrightcassi (Cancer patients)

www.gofundme.com/cassi-tichy-memorial (Family)

On behalf of Cassi's family, heartfelt gratitude for the outpouring of so many tangible expressions of support, care, prayers, and love throughout her cancer journey, and especially now, during this difficult time of grief.

A special thanks to the following:

1. Rady Children's Hospital (San Diego) doctors, nurses, and support staff - we are grateful!

2. To the Emilio Nares Foundation and Friends of Scott - thanks for all those precious memories, and care!

3. Arbor Hospice (Hemet) staff/ Home nurse and caregiver - you're the BEST!

4. Miller Jones Crematory (Sun City) - Kimberly Jones and her amazing staff offered such compassion, respect, love and peace during the transition moments of sorrow....such incredible people!

5. Family and friends - thanks for the love, encouragement, and uplifting expressions of care.

Love, and warm hugs! ellen (mother)

(The below message was written by Alena Vaccarino, Cassi's beloved sister and best friend...definitely two peas in a pod, a very genuine, and deep sister bond!)

Cassiopeia Grace Tichy, local burgeoning artist, HHS grad of 2017, beloved sister, daughter, and granddaughter passed away in the early morning Sunday, May 20th at home in East Hemet after almost three years of battling Ewing Sarcoma. Cassi's family said goodbye on Sunday, but there will be a celebration of life to be held later this summer. Please contact Miller-Jones Mortuary for ways to contact the family.