Monica Rist-Cean

A light on Earth joined the stars in the Heavens on October 30, 2023 when Monica Rist Cean was relieved of pain, to shine down forever. Her family takes a lot of comfort knowing she was met by so many relatives and friends that have gone before her and she missed seeing. She was quite the memorable soul, always ready to offer a helping hand and a beaming smile. After spending years in food service, she built a cleaning business “A Clean Attitude” and brought the joys of no housework to many families as well as pride for many establishments to offer their own clients. She appeared to be all work and no play until it came to her sports. She loved NASCAR,  but especially favored the NFL, where she cheered for the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs, and of course, collegiate basketball, where she would root for the Kansas Jayhawks and Syracuse Orange… she did bleed Orange. A wise person would never get her started on stats! Monica treasured family and did her best to insure they knew it. Her 6 sons knew she was only a plane ticket away and she was there for illnesses, birthdays, ball games or no reason just to be with them. She would be quick to remind you “Not all who wander are lost”. 

Monica was born December 29, 1964, daughter of Peter and Merianne Shelmidine and grew up in Lorraine, NY. She attended South Jefferson Central School and took courses at Jefferson Community College. Among her survivors are her husband of just over 1 year, Robert Bruce Cean, Adams, her mother, sons Timothy (Lacey), Rockport Missouri, Nicholas, John Patrick and Jordan, all in Des Moines, Iowa, Noah, LaVista, Nebraska and Jared Peter, a junior at University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, sisters Pamela, Sydney, Montana and Andrea, Black Hawk, Colorado, aunts Marlene (Harry) Closs, Camden NY and Melanie (James) Laisdell, Adams, NY. Near and dear to her heart are Cathy and Gus Barnett, Oskaloosa, Kansas, Jared’s grandparents as well as nephews Daniel and Treydan, Sydney, MT and Alex, Kingstown, TX and nieces Morgan, Syracuse, NY and Reagan, Black Hawk, CO. There are too many cousins to list but a couple special ones include Hal and Rudy Closs, Camden, Patrick Kelley, North Bay, NY and Rebecca Waite, Adams, who assisted Monica as she cared for her Aunt Michelle who passed in 2022. Cousin Rachel Pitkin also served as Monica’s right hand very often over the years. She could tell you something special and unique about every cousin. She also is survived by 12 grandchildren, all located in the Midwest. 

Monica was predeceased by her grandparents, her father, her fiancé of 14 years Steven Nichols Jr., her Aunt Marsha and Aunt Michelle and a beloved cousin Michael Laisdell among many others. 

Arrangements are in the hands of Cleveland Funeral Home, Watertown. Services and Celebration of Life are tentatively scheduled in early January. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to South Jeff Rescue Squad or Adams Fire Department.

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