Jane Bianca Cissell

JANE (JANIE) BIANCA CISSELL

Surrounded by her two sons and daughter, Jane (Janie) Bianca Cissell passed away peacefully at the “Hour of Great Mercy’, on January 20, 2024, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, at the age of 84.

Born February 15, 1939, in Indianola, Mississippi to parents Angelo and Grace Bianca.  She was the third of six children. (Four sisters and a brother.)   After graduating from Indianola High School with high honors, she was recruited by Arkansas State College (Now Arkansas State University) to be the featured majorette of the band. This marked the beginning of a journey that would be filled with love, family, and many cherished memories with stops in Arkansas, Texas, Iowa, and Georgia.

While attending Arkansas State college, she met the love of her life, a football standout named Howard Cissell.  They were married January 23, 1959 and their love for each other grew, as did their family.  They welcomed two sons, Howard Jr. and Jon, and a daughter, Deanna into their lives.  Along with her devotion to raising her three children, she was dedicated to her work and her church.  After her tenure as a teacher (always the most popular among students), she finished her career as a corporate administrator in Atlanta, Georgia.

Although Janie considered her greatest accomplishment to be her family, it was her devout faith and relationship with God that gave her the strength and courage to be a guiding light through the challenges of life.  Janie’s devotion and dedication to her Christian faith and her church was always an intricate part of her life.  If you were camping in the middle of the desert, she would find a Catholic church to attend on Sunday.  One of her proudest achievements was being a founding member of St. Oliver Plunkett Church in Snellville, Georgia.

Janie was truly one of the most beautiful people to walk on this earth.  She was a servant of our Lord and shepherd to many and exemplified grace, humility, and class.  Her legacy will endure through her children and grandchildren and all those who were blessed in knowing her.  She will be missed beyond what words can describe but we can rejoice in knowing that she is residing in the heavens above.

Janie leaves behind her two sons, Howard Jr. (Cindy), Jon, and her daughter Deanna (Marty), two sisters, ten grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Monday, January 29, 2024, at St. Matthews Church, 501 S. Ermen Lane, Osceola, Arkansas with Father Frances officiating and Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.  Visitation will begin at 12:00 pm until service time, and Mass will begin at 1:00 PM.  Janie will be laid to rest next to her husband, Howard, at Mississippi County Memorial Gardens.  Following the burial, a reception will be held at The Wilson Café 2 N. Jefferson Street, Wilson, Arkansas.

The family would like to thank all the wonderful staff at St. Bernards and The Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House for their loving care of Janie. To sign an online guestbook, go to emersonfuneralhome.com.