Cecelia P. Andy

Cecelia Pauline Andy “Saiwaliss” was born August 5, 1964, in Toppenish, Washington, and passed peacefully in her home with her family by her side on Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Toppenish, Washington.

She grew up in White Swan and attended Harrah Elementary, White Swan Middle/High School, and Chemawa Indian School. Cecelia earned her GED through Yakima Valley College, completing a certification in Administrative Secretary.

As a child, she was raised through the White Swan Independent Shaker Church, where she would attend services and help in the kitchen when needed. She was also brought into the Toppenish Creek Longhouse by her grandmother at a young age and served as a food gatherer.

Cecelia loved life the way she lived it—through tradition, care, and love. She enjoyed digging roots of all kinds, picking huckleberries, and making sure her family was provided for throughout the year. She faithfully gathered, froze, dried, and canned traditional foods to help get her family through the seasons. She also made sure to gather for those who were incapable of or unable.

In her working years, Cecelia served at the Toppenish Nursing Home as a caregiver, and also at Stadelman Fruit Warehouse, where she loved meeting new friends who soon became family. She later worked at Yakama Nation Legends Casino from the day of opening for over 10+ years, first as a table games dealer and later as a Pit Boss. She used her table game skills and experience to help open Thunderbird Casino and Caribbean Casino in Yakima, WA.

Her hobbies reflected the joy she carried everywhere she went. She loved playing bingo, stick game, and Candy Crush, but her greatest passion was playing Triple Fortune Dragons. She supported her grandchildren at their sporting events and loved spending time with them—playing board games, taking them to the movies, Skateland, Meadowbrook Family Fun Center, and cultural events.

Cecelia was a diehard Seahawks fan, and she supported their victory in the 2026 Super Bowl Championship.

Cecelia is preceded in death by her lifelong partner, Ralph “Chucket” Brown; her only daughter, Stephanie Gomez (Andy); and by her three beautiful and loving grandchildren, Ayden Gomez, Andres “Dre” Gomez, and Kaiya “Mosa” Gomez; her pride and joy Hercule “Puppy” Gomez. She is also preceded in death by her brothers Michael Andy, Stanley Andy, Charles Andy, and David Andy, and her sister Sharon Andy, along with her aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews.

Services & Visitation

Dressing and viewing will be held on Tuesday, April 7th, 2026, at 2:00 PM at the Toppenish Creek Longhouse, followed by waashat services.

Dinner will be served, and then evening services will begin at 7:00 PM with Shaker Service by the White Swan Independent Shaker Church. Her overnight waashat services will begin at 8:00 PM, and her last traditional meal will be at midnight.

Sunrise Services will begin on Wednesday, April 8th, 2026, at 6:00 AM. She will then be taken to Toppenish Creek Cemetery to be laid next to her brothers, Ambrose Andy and Moses Andy.

Cecelia’s presence will be deeply missed, and her love, teachings, and traditions will live on through her family and all who knew her.