Paraprofessional
Ana Maria Aragon, 65
Died January 26, 2021.
Academia Del Pueblo, Phoenix, AZ
Paraprofessional
Arizona has lost nearly 16,000 people to COVID-19. One of them was a Phoenix-area school administrator who was featured in a powerful documentary about the frontlines of the pandemic. The documentary is called “Death, Through a Nurse’s Eyes.”
Ana Maria Aragon got sick around mid-December and was later hospitalized, according to relatives. The 65-year-old worked for the Academia Del Pueblo in South Phoenix for more than 20 years. Colleagues there described her as a “child advocate.”
“When grocery shopping, kids would come up to her and say “Miss Anita, Miss Anita!” her son-in-law Frank Munoz tells us.
Munoz spoke with Arizona’s Family alongside his wife, Ana Lilia, who is Aragon’s daughter.
The New York Times was at Valleywise Health in January documenting frontline workers when Aragon lost her battle with the virus. Aragon’s family gave the crew permission to use her identity. The footage captures Aragon’s final moments as family said goodbyes over video call and a nurse held her hand.
“It’s always an honor to be that conduit for the family,” says Sara Reynolds, one of several Valleywise nurses at Aragon’s bed side when she passed away January 26.
After the documentary was released, she got a chance to speak with Aragon’s family. “It’s not all about a thank you,” says Reynolds. “It’s just more, ‘How are you doing?’ and, I’m a real person, too. I did truly care.”
Aragon’s family says they feel grateful they were given the opportunity to be a part of the New York Times project.
“It’s something we never imagined but we wanted to also find out. Now it’s global,” says Munoz. “We wanted to leave a legacy so that our children will know how their grandmother fought until the last minute.”
The family hopes the intimate look at the pandemic’s emotional toll encourages others to “be careful.”
“It’s like she’s going to walk through the door and she’s still here,” says Munoz. “We miss her every day.”
Cynthia Lindsey, 61
Died January 21, 2021.
Sedalia Park Elementary School, Marietta, GA
Paraprofessional
Cynthia Claire Lindsey passed away from covid-19 with her family by her side on January 21, 2021 at the age of 61.
Anyone who met Cynthia Lindsey, knew how much love radiated from her heart, but nothing made her happier than the simple things like playing board games with her family, sewing, and spending time with her friends.
Cynthia is survived by her three children Robert Cowles, Lindsey Cowles, Michael Cowles and her two brothers Ed and Cliff Lindsey. Her cheerful attitude and bright smile will be missed at the elementary school where she worked as a paraprofessional. She will also be dearly missed by her friends at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church.
Chris Smith, 77
Died January 26, 2021.
Morris Innovative High School, Dalton, GA
Paraprofessional
Jon Chris Smith, age 77, passed away at Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton, Georgia on January 26, 2021 after losing a month long battle with Covid-19. He was born in Stone Mountain, Georgia to Thelma B. and John Harold Smith. He served two tours of duty in Viet Nam, while he was in the United States Navy and later graduated from the University of Georgia. He also worked in the Athletic Department while he was a student.
After moving to Dalton in 1971 Chris and his wife, Mary L. Smith, taught at North Whitfield High School and subsequently Northwest High School, where he also coached girls basketball, track and football. Chris then left teaching to work in industry at World Carpets, Queen Carpet, Synthetic Industries in Dalton area and later Church Chair in Rome. He finally returned to the career he loved best and had worked for the past several years at Morris Innovative High School in Dalton Public Schools. There he encouraged students to get to the “finish line” in their education and actually graduate from high school and follow their dreams. He was very much appreciated at Morris by students and staff alike. Pam Massengale, assistant principal said, “he was a master at helping students over the “finish line” and she would tell him to work his magic and get a student caught up.”
Chris was preceded in death by his parents Thelma and Harold Smith, son Christopher Blake Smith, and nephew Jason Smith. He is survived by his daughter Holly Smith Lovelace, grandchildren Rella and India, former spouse and good friend, Mary L. Smith all of Cohutta, GA. He is also survived by his brother and wife, Laura and Wade Smith, and niece Stephanie Florea and family all of Cumming, GA. He leaves behind sister and brother in laws Bob and Elaine Campbell, Bill and Beverly Bean, Phillip Little, Dr. James Little and their families.
Due to Covid precautions and the safety of others, there will be no visitation. A private graveside service will be held at Melwood Cemetery in Stone Mountain at a later date. He will buried next to his son, Blake. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Morris Innovative “Finish Line” Fund, 104, Ft. Hill Terrace, Dalton, GA 30721; The Family Support Council, P.O. Box 1707, Dalton, GA 30721 (child abuse prevention.)
Cathy Ann Goldner, 68
Died January 14, 2021.
New Philadelphia City School District, New Philadelphia, OH
Paraprofessional
Cathy Ann Goldner, age 68, of New Philadelphia, died, Thursday, January 14, 2021, in Mercy Medical Center at Canton due to complications from COVID-19.
Born on August 9, 1952, at Portsmouth, Ohio, Cathy was a daughter of the late Pleasant K. Lutz, Jr. and Patricia Wagner Lutz.
She was a graduate of Lakeview High School and for more than two decades has been employed as a Paraprofessional with the New Philadelphia City Schools. She loved working with her students and served as the high school representative for the school employees union. During the summer break from school, Cathy could be found working the concession stand at Tuscora Park.
She enjoyed crafting, her favorite being crocheting, and especially enjoyed making keepsakes for family and friends. She loved playing dominoes and was a longtime volunteer for the New Philadelphia High School Band Boosters. Cathy also volunteered her time during the Tuscarawas County Fair. She enjoyed traveling with family and friends and was always up for taking trips to new places.
During the holidays, Cathy would organize hard tack candy making with her family who would then share their treats as gifts with friends.
She will be missed by her daughter, Leanna (Chris Corrie) Rummes of Euclid, her longtime partner, John Rummes of New Philadelphia, her sisters, Cindy K. Collins of Wheelersburg, Ohio, Carol D. Biedenbach of Stow, Connie S. Hackworth of Amarillo, Texas, Cara Kresevich of Warren, and Patrea Maynard of Franklin Furnace, Ohio and her brother, Pleasant K. “Bucky” Lutz, III of Jacksonville, Florida as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Cathy’s family would like to invite guests to join a live stream memorial celebration of her life on Wednesday, January, 20, 2021 at 5PM which will be broadcast via Facebook.com/GeibCares. Arrangements and cremation care are being handled by the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia.
Memorial contributions in Cathy’s name may be directed to the Quaker Foundation, PO Box 627, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663, where a memorial scholarship for any special needs student who will be attending a post-secondary program is being established.
Maria Hernandez, 55
Died January 7, 2021.
Mulberry High School, Mulberry, FL
Paraprofessional, Secretary
Polk County Public Schools now has at least one fatality from COVID-19.
Maria Hernandez, 55, a longtime paraprofessional and secretary in Mulberry schools, died from the virus on Thursday, according to family and friends.
“We are heartbroken about the loss of Maria,” said Michael Young, principal of Mulberry High School, where Hernandez worked in the guidance office. “She was driven by her passion to help our students and families have better futures. Maria excelled at celebrating student accomplishments and encouraging them to stretch themselves beyond their expectations. Her Instagram handle was ‘Mulberry Momma Bear,’ and it was very fitting for her – she filled in that role for all of our students.”
Young added that, in addition to her work duties, Hernandez could be found tutoring, mentoring, selling tickets for games, chaperoning fieldtrips to colleges — “all without pay. She was motivated by love.”
PCPS officials said they had not heard of any other employee dying of COVID, which would make Hernandez the first known fatality among the district’s 13,000 employees and more than 100,000 students.
“She was a valued member of the Mulberry High School community, and will be dearly missed,” said PCPS spokeswoman Rachel Pleasant. “Our deepest sympathies go to her family, friends and colleagues.”
Her daughter, 29-year-old Blanca Helmick, said Hernandez and her youngest son, 16-year-old Jacob Ritchie, attended a wrestling tournament involving seven Polk County schools in mid-December. After people started getting sick, the school district canceled all athletic events.
Helmick said Jacob got sick first and then her mother began showing symptoms and tested positive.
“She was fine, and then it wasn’t until a few days later, she was starting to feel sick herself and it just got worse after that,” Helmick said.
She held back tears to describe her mother as the most selfless person she has known.
“My mom was very giving — I literally didn’t know anyone like her,” Helmick said. “She not only cared so much about her family, she cared about her community and kids in the high school and kids in the migrant program. When I was little…I don’t know how many house visits I went with her (on) to families that were in need. She would literally drop anything to help someone who needed help, to giving them her last dollar. That was my mom. And she was a woman of God, her faith was so important to her.”
Helmick said her mother was born in Eagle Pass, Texas, and is survived by Helmick, Ritchie and Hernandez’s other four children: Clint Griner, 36, Jamie Waring, 28, Ronald Helmick, 26, and Taylor Helmick, 24.
Dani Higgins, a migrant interventionist teacher for PCPS, worked alongside Hernandez at Kingsford Elementary School and then through their migrant relief work.
“We started a relationship as co-workers and quickly became friends,” said Higgins, who worked tirelessly with Hernandez and Emilia Segovia to help Mulberry’s migrant community with donations of food, clothing, school supplies, tutoring and mentoring. “Maria treated everyone with respect and kindness. She would always do what was necessary to help others if it was in her ability to do so. That often meant staying well beyond her workday to meet a parent who was unable to get off (work) earlier, to make phone calls, translate documents, teach English, or to translate for a meeting. Much of these activities were not paid hours, but she enjoyed helping others.”
Higgins said Hernandez encouraged the migrant students to set goals and to attain them because they are a population that doesn’t have much of what is needed to succeed and is often marginalized by society.
“They could count on her — she cheered them on. She cheered the families on,” Higgins said. “However, she didn’t stop there. She also spent weekends and evenings translating college nights, chaperoning field trips and attending service events with the Adelante Club. She always showed up for the students when they needed her. We attended many graduation ceremonies, family celebrations, quinceaneras, weddings and births. She valued the families that she served, and that made a tremendous impact – on them and on me.”
Those who knew her took to social media on Thursday to express their grief and their condolences to Hernandez’s family, including her children.
Cindy Hill Spear taught third and fifth grades at Kingsford Elementary School and worked with Hernandez. She also taught one of Hernandez’s daughters, Blanca, in the fifth grade.
“Maria Hernandez was such a wonderful woman and a great asset to the Mulberry community,” Spear said in a Facebook private message. “During her stay at Kingsford she was always willing to step up and help wherever she was needed, whether it was helping Hispanic parents during a parent conference or taking extra duties at school. She was such a wonderful parent her children. Mulberry has lost a gem, and she will be sorely missed.”
Helmick has started a GoFund me page to help with funeral costs and to set up a trust for Jacob. It can be found at http://bit.ly/35iboQn.
Marie Linh Le, 69
Died January 3, 2020.
Kirk Elementary School, Houston, TX
Paraprofessional
Lê Phương Linh was born on October 26, 1951, in Hải Phòng, Vietnam. At the age of 69, she passed away on January 3, 2021, in Houston, Texas, at Methodist West Hospital. A victim of the coronavirus pandemic, she was not allowed to have her family members in attendance, however, an online group viewing was provided for the family before her death.
Linh was the daughter of Lê Minh Thịnh and Nguyễn Thị Liên, who had 4 daughters and 2 sons. Her father taught English to the Vietnamese people in Hải Phòng. In 1954, their family ran from the northern Communist party and escaped to South Vietnam. She went to a French Catholic school, Saint Paul, fluently speaking and writing in French. Linh went to the University of Law in Saigon and nearly finished her degree until her studies were interrupted when the country lost to the Communist party. She then became a junior high teacher, instructing on history and geography.
After the Vietnam War’s Fall of Saigon in 1975 and multiple attempts of escape, Linh was able to finally leave Vietnam in 1981 with her brother and sister. Escaping by boat, they were at sea without food or water for 3 days. Harassed by pirates, their boat was saved by a German ship, which they boarded and stayed on for a month before being dropped off in the Philippines. For months on the island’s refugee camp, Linh was the teacher aide and Vietnamese/English interpreter for the British volunteers who came to help the refugees transition to America. With the help from their oldest sister, they were sponsored in Tulsa, Oklahoma. On July 1981, Linh and her siblings were on a plane to their new lives in the United States.
Linh met and married her husband, Nguyễn Dang Linh, and moved with him to Houston, Texas, in 1982. They had two children, Christine Lan Vi Nguyen (1983) and David Vinh Nguyen (1984). She was naturalized and became a U.S. citizen in 1988. She worked as a teacher aide at Kirk Elementary School, and her hobbies were cooking, baking, traveling, socializing with friends, and exercising (she loved Zumba). Linh was the most loving and caring wife and mother to her family. A bright light and loved by all, most knew Linh for her sweet smile, kind words, and thoughtful gifts.
She is survived by her husband and two children, along with sisters, Lê Bích Từ, Hô`Phương Mai, Trần Phương Anh, and brother, Lê Thế Trường. Her saint name is Marie Lê Phương Linh.
Eleanor DeShields, 68
Died December 10, 2020.
Wilbur Cross Elementary School, Bridgeport, CT
Paraprofessional
Ms. Eleanor “Diane” DeShields was born on April 26, 1952 to the late Eleanor Williford DeShields and the late Wesley G. DeShields Sr. Diane entered eternal rest on Thursday, December 10, 2020 at St. Vincent’s Medical Center after her battle with COVID-19. She is predeceased by her sister, Valerie Simons, and her brother, Wesley G. DeShields Jr.
In her early years, Diane attended public schools in Bridgeport, CT. Upon her graduation, she matriculated to Oakwood University in Huntsville, AL and received her degree in social work. Diane loved children and was passionate about working with them. She was last employed as a paraprofessional at Wilbur Cross Elementary School for eleven years. When conversing with Diane, she often spoke of and referred to the students as “her kids”. She also loved and had great respect for her colleagues. Diane’s loving and caring spirit was also shown in the dedication to caring for her mother’s twin, Evelyn Sutton, for 15 years.
Among those who are left to cherish the memory of Diane’s loving and devoted life are her brother, Glenville DeShields (Wendy) of Devonshire, Bermuda; two sisters-in-law, Wanda DeShields of Spartanburg, SC and Gloria Lindsay of Newberry, SC; a brother-in-law, Calvin Simons of Devonshire, Bermuda; nephews, Wesley G. DeShields III of Irmo, SC, Dwayne and Dean Simons of Devonshire, Bermuda; nieces, Gene’a DeShields-Boykin of Irmo, SC, Brittany DeShields of Moore, SC, Kristy Simons of Devonshire, Bermuda, and Glennisha and Kennisha DeShields of Devonshire, Bermuda; a godson, cousins, and a host of other relatives and friends. Diane also leaves behind two very devoted friends, Valerie Price and Leondra Harris.
Joyce Parker, 59
Died November 14, 2020.
Montvale Elementary School, Maryville, TN
Teacher’s Assistant
Joyce Parker, loving wife and mother of two children, passed away Saturday, November 14, 2020 at the age of 59 due to COVID-19 complications. Joyce was born on June 2, 1961 in Eden, North Carolina to Phillip and Trudy (Nolen) Bryant. On April 8, 1989, she married Mike Parker. They raised one son, Zachary, and one daughter, Emily. Joyce had a passion for teaching children. She was a devoted teacher’s aide at Montvale Elementary School for over 20 years. Joyce also loved teaching Sunday school at Maryville Church of Christ. Preceded in death by: father, Phillip; mother, Trudy; brother, Kevin. She is survived by: husband of 31 years, Mike; two children, Zach and Emily; sisters, Janet Keever & brother-in-law, Tom of Hickory, NC and Betty Brinson of Thomasville, GA, as well as several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
James Coy, 71
December 3, 2020.
Capital City High School, Jefferson City, MO
Paraprofessional
James Curtis Coy, 71, of Jefferson City passed away on Thursday, December 3, 2020 at SSM Health-St. Mary’s due to complications from COVID-19. He was born April 29, 1949 in Jefferson City; a son of the late Curtis O. and F. Varine (Capps) Coy. He was united in marriage to Linda Amsbaugh on January 8, 1972 in Atchison, Kansas.
Jim attended St. Peter school and was a 1967 graduate of Helias High School and a 1971 graduate of St. Benedicts. Jim’s family owned and operated Coy’s Moving and Storage Company where he was the Vice President until his retirement in 2006. After retirement he found his true passion in life as a paraprofessional with Jefferson City Public Schools. He adored his students and was known for loading up on everyone’s favorite bubblegum flavors and getting extra desserts at lunch. His co-workers at school became his second family over the past decade and he loved them dearly. Jim’s greatest joy in life came from his family. He loved big and smiled even bigger. His wife, children, sons-in-law, grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews and cousins meant the world to him. He was known for spoiling his children and that spilled over to his grandsons, who were his pride and joy. Jim was a faithful member of St. Peter Catholic Church.
Along with his wife Linda, he is survived by his three children: Alisande Rocha (Pedro) of Nashville, Tennessee, Christopher Coy of Jefferson City and Jill Duzan (Kelly)of Normal, Illinois; grandchildren Mason Coy, James and Everett Duzan; two sisters and one brother. Jim was preceded in death by grandson in his heart, Dylan Pirner and grandson Hayden Duzan.
Private family services will be held in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to the Special Education Department at Capital City High School.
John Hickman
Died October 18, 2020.
Mission Trail Middle School, Olathe, KS
Paraprofessional
Olathe Public Schools said Monday that a paraprofessional at Mission Trail Middle School died over the weekend from COVID-19.
Mission Trail Principal Rachelle Waters said in a letter sent to parents and shared by Olathe Public Schools that paraprofessional John Hickman died from the coronavirus.
“John made a tremendous impact on our building on a daily basis,” Waters said in the letter. “John had been ill for a number of weeks and passed away due to complications from COVID-19.
“He had not been in the building since Sept. 24. He will be deeply missed. Please keep his family in your thoughts during this tough time.”
The district said Hickman did not contract COVID-19 at the school.