Note: Annalee “Nhon” McGill-Cossick left WPSD 2007-2008 academic year.
Annalee Rose McGill Cossick, 27, of Camp Hill, PA, passed away unexpectedly of cardiac arrest on July 2, 2021, at Jefferson Health-Abington Hospital in Abington, Pennsylvania. She was born on October 8, 1993, in Hoa Binh, Vietnam, a province in North Vietnam southwest of Hanoi. On September 9, 2001, Annalee’s late father Francis “Frank” Gilbert Cossick brought her home from Vietnam “to be ours.”
Annalee’s first teacher was a home tutor, interpreter, and lifetime friend, Jenice Wolgemuth. Later, she attended Middlesex Elementary, where she met her beloved first-grade teacher and lifetime friend, Deb Heineman. Annalee went on to graduate from Pressley Ridge School for the Deaf in 2014. As a child and young teen, Annalee attended a Presbyterian Church in America Church. As an adult, she was baptized into the Reformed Faith.
Names and naming were very important to Annalee. She began life as Bui Thi Nhon. In respect of her Vietnamese heritage, we retained that name, but when she became ours, we added Annalee Rose, with special reference to the names of a maternal aunt, uncle, and cousin. For a space of about 18 months, having concluded that the name of our Lord held pride of place in our home, Annalee restyled herself as “Jesus Cossick.” Much to the consternation of her teachers, she signed her papers Jesus Cossick and insisted that her peers called her Jesus. The name sign she gave herself as an adult is particularly poignant, poetic, and pure. It is the handshape for “I love you” curved like a crescent moon and moved gracefully forward and up. She said that name told anyone she met that she loved the moon in the sky. But mostly, she loved animals, all animals, especially dogs. Several dogs have gone before her, most particularly her own beloved Katie and her hamster, whom she named Lovely, and a much loved, enjoyed, and remembered but unnamed dog from Vietnam.
When Annalee got her first official identification card from PennDot, she chose to be an organ donor. When her mum asked her why, Annalee signed, “To make life better for someone else.” We complied with her wishes, and she did, indeed, make life better for someone else.
Annalee is survived by a large and loving family, aunts, uncles, and cousins of all sorts welcomed their hearts to her. Some learned some basic American sign language. Inspired by Annalee, one even chose a career in ASL and audiology. Annie’s mother, Faith Helen McGill-Cossick, of Camp Hill, PA, was the only signer in the family, though, very English and not particularly expert. Still, the two could talk about almost everything any mum and daughter would talk about. And whatever may have been lacking was made up for in snuggles, foot rubs, endless shared pots of tea, planning their next trip to Ocean City, NJ, and bonding over their mutual adoration of animals!
Annalee is survived by two brothers: Caleb Steffan McGill Cossick, of Camp Hill, PA, and Matthew Josiah McGill Cossick, of Harrisburg, PA. The brothers carried Annalee wherever she wanted to go, fetch her spring rolls and pho from her favorite restaurant, Garden Vietnamese in Harrisburg, and take her to The Asian Mall for exotic fruits and vegetables and the occasional stinky dried fish. They made Coca-Cola and Arizona Green Tea runs and engaged raucously in more than their fair share of pre-school-style potty humor.
Annalee is also survived by her sister Sarah Grace McGill Cossick of Camp Hill, PA. Annie and Sarah were typical “sister rivals.” Still, when Mum wasn’t available in a pinch, Annie would assign Sarah to tea-making and fetching duties or to locating mum to tell her that it was time to come back and take over tea-making and fetching duties. Though the rivalry was real when Annie and mum made one of their trips to Claire’s, Annie would not leave the store until Faith bought something to take home for Sarah, too.
Annie is survived by her grandparents Reverend Thomas Charles McGill and Betty Louise McMasters McGill, of Rosebud, PA. And she was very much her grandparents’ girl. Annie worried about their comfort, safety, and well-being, as much as they did hers. Grandmother was the sole source of properly made chicken and dumpling soup and video relay service phone calls full of advice on life, love, making good choices, nutrition, and Jesus. Grandfather could always be counted on to sign, “I love you. Jesus loves you. You love Jesus.” To which, Annie could be counted on to giggle sign, “Yes, of course!” and open her arms wide for a hug.
In the past few years, Annie’s fiancé, Gabriel Raymond Gonzales, of Philadelphia, PA, has been her earthly guardian angel, carrying her, her scooter, and toolbox of medications everywhere she went.. In all of her physical and emotional struggles, Every day, Gabriel supported her. Every day, he made sure that she knew she was valuable and beautiful. He encouraged her to eat regularly, resulting, this past winter, in “chubby cheeks” for the first time in years. Gabriel and Annalee were to have a Commitment Ceremony with “Pastor Grandfather” officiating this summer. The family cannot thank Gabriel enough for his loving service to Annalee.
Bui Thi, Annalee Rose, or Moon Lover, to her family, she will always be “Our Annie.”
A Memorial Service to honor Annalee’s life will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 17, 2021, at Second City Church, 251 Verbeke St, Harrisburg, PA, 17102. A time of food and fellowship will follow in the church’s social hall. Masks will be required to be worn while inside the church.
