Christina K. Aiassi, 102 of Murphysboro,
died at 10:15 am Sunday, January 8, 2006 at her home. She was born in Murphysboro March 27, 1903 a daughter of the late Henry and Mary (Sundmacher) Aiassi. Services will be at 2 pm Wednesday, January 11, 2006 at Crawshaw Funeral Home in Murphysboro, with Pastor Mike Fender of Spring Bay United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant Grove Memorial Park in Murphysboro. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 pm Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Christina Aiassi Scholarship fund and will be accepted at the funeral home or at the Guidance Dept. at Murphysboro High School, 50 Blackwood Dr. Murphysboro, Il. Miss Aiassi was a dedicated and respected teacher for 47 years. She passed the test allowing her to teach prior to receiving a college degree in March 1921, signed her first teaching contract that April, and then graduated from Murphysboro Township High School in June 1921. She taught in Dowell, IL. for one year, and then began her career with the Murphysboro School Dist. With a year at Lincoln School, followed by a long tenure at Logan Junior High School. When the Junior High was moved to Carruthers School in 1957, she taught in that building for eleven years. After her retirement in June 1968, she continued educating the students of Murphysboro as a substitute teacher for nearly 20 years. Miss Aiassi received her Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Illinois Normal University in June 1926, her Master of Arts in Education degree from the University of Illinois in June 1947, and completed all the requirements for her Doctorate in Education degree at SIU. She completed all of her college coursework by attending summer sessions and night classes. Miss Aiassi was the first Murphysboro Community Unit District #186 teacher to have student teachers from SIU come for their training. She also taught summer school at SIU. On May 21, 1974, at the age of 71, she was named Murphysboro Chamber of Commerce "Woman of the Year." Her entire life has been dedicated to her teaching. She was considered an outstanding teacher who held the respect and admiration of her fellow teachers, administrators, and her pupils. Christina was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Murphysboro. Survivors include two brothers, Fred and Eugene L. Aiassi both of Granite City, IL. one niece, Phyllis Elaine Grob of Murphysboro, grand-niece Carolyn Gallegly and husband Tom and grand-nephew Dale Grob and wife Christy. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by one sister Frieda Marie Yeager, her brother in law Burke Yeager, and her nephew in law Gene Grob.