Angelina Nockai

Angelina Nockai was born in Omaha Nebraska on August 7, 1958; she passed away on July 27, 2013. She was preceded in death by her father, Raymond Nockai and her brothers, Raymond Jr. and Ricky Nockai. She is survived by her mother Delores; her sisters Teddy, Pita, Dee Dee and Michelle; her brothers Henry, Alton, Larry and Tony; her beloved daughter and granddaughter Angelina Nicole Nockai and Lily Mariposa Azul Miller-Nockai and her son-in-law Bryce Miller. Angel grew up in and attended school in Omaha. She attended Cathedral High but received her High School Diploma from Central High School. She went on to the University of Omaha where she met a professor who convinced her to move to Washington State. Angel completed her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the Evergreen State College in Olympia Washington. She then applied for and was awarded the position of Title VII Indian Education Director for the Clover Park School District in Tacoma Washington. She settled in Washington, making it a home away from home. Her wonderful daughter, Angelina Nicole was born in 1988 and became the center of her world, along with the young people in her program. Angel loved her family. She came home to Omaha twice a year, once in the summer when the whole family would come together to party and eat at Grandma Nockai’s and again in the winter for Christmas. Angel loved young people and she involved Angelina Nicole in her projects with them. Together they cut, sewed, made jingles, weaved ribbon, beaded and otherwise completed traditional dance regalia for the children. She took Angelina and generations of children to Pow Wows, off on camping trips, to movies and all kinds of adventures. She introduced many Native American children to their traditional cultures, got their parents involved in her programs and helping with the kids, thereby strengthening family ties. She believed in young people and reached out to them; she saved the lives of some of them, saved some of them from going to jail and made all of their lives better. Angel in fact, made the world a better place for all of us. Angel was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, received treatment and moved on. Fifteen years later she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer and knew she was terminal. At that time she was working towards a Master’s Degree in education. Even with the new diagnosis she made the decision to complete her degree. She said it was important for young people to have positive role models and to understand that it was possible for Indian people to have Master’s Degrees. While she was going through chemo and radiation, she was completing her degree and talked often about her nieces and nephews and wanting to encourage them to further their education. She graduated from Antioch University with a Master’s in Education in 2008. In the intervening years she was able to attend her daughter’s graduation from the University of Puget Sound, be present at the birth of her granddaughter, see her daughter enter into a Master’s Program and be a part of all our lives. She will be in our minds and hearts forever; she will be a part of the stories we tell our children, grandchildren and friends. She lives within us all. Visitation Friday, August 2, 2013 from 4:00PM to 8:00PM with Wake Service at 7:00PM at Braman Mortuary 72 St Chapel Funeral Service 9:30AM Saturday, August 3, 2013 at Braman Mortuary 72 St. Chapel Interment Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery