Cecilia J. "Ceil" Maccani, 96, died peacefully Thursday evening, Nov. 6, 2008, in Ironwood. Ceil was born in Hancock, one of eleven children, to the late John and Mary (Michetti) Simmons. She was married to Val Maccani on June 15, 1932, in Bessemer. He preceded her in death in 1987. Ceil lived in Bessemer until 1941 when the family moved to Detroit, where she worked as a clerk in a 5 and 10 store and enjoyed bowling and playing cards. In 1949 the family moved back to Bessemer and soon became owners of Scotty's "Chicken-in-the-Basket" where Ceil enjoyed a reputation as the cook of the best Northern fried chicken. She continued on with her love for cards, and along the way, found bingo and the casinos that she enjoyed until the very last year of her life. After selling Scotty's, she and Val took over as caretakers at Little Girl's Point County Park for about ten years. Ceil planned on retiring to her cottage on Lake Gogebic where she enjoyed fishing, but was bored, so both she and Val went back to work at Powderhorn, she in the kitchen where she made the best french fries and Val on the chair lifts. After finally retiring, she lived in Ironwood for many years and then moved to the Villa Vista Apartments in Hurley where she made many new friends. She was a member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood. Ceil was always a great cook and her whole family relished her ravioli, gnocchi and pasties. She generously shared her many recipes but no one could make dough as well as Ceil. She will always be remembered for her sense of humor and her love for games. Smear was her favorite and she always looked for willing partners. Her one regret in her year at Josephson's was that there were no smear players. Surviving are her son, Robert and daughter-in-law, Donna; four grandchildren, Patti Black, Cathy Maccani, Susan McCarthy and Stephen Maccani; nine great-grandchildren (who called her Nona), Justin and Ashley Black, Ceilia, Ben, Sam and Matt Maccani, and Luke, Dane and Cassie McCarthy; four sisters, Margaret (Ted) Ellos, Sister Priscilla Simmons O.S.F., Colleen Melisko and Betty Hampel; brothers-and-sisters-in-law, James and Ann Maccani and Doris Maccani; and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides her parents and husband, Ceil was preceded in death by her brothers John, Raymond and Donald; and sisters, Marie Sontag, Priscilla Eklund and Catherine Nelson. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, Nov. 12, at noon, at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, with the Rev. Darryl Pepin, celebrant. Rite of Committal will be held in the St. Joseph Family Room at the church, with luncheon to follow in the parish hall. Cremation will take place. Relatives and friends may call in the St. Joseph Family Room at the church beginning at 11 a.m. on Wednesday. Pallbearers will be Steve Maccani, Ray and Jim Simmons, Denny Ellos and Ted Schmalz. Memorial contributions may be made to the Our Lady of Peace Adopt-A-Student program or People First Milwaukee, 3195 S. Superior St., Milwaukee, Wis. 53207. To view Ceil's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are with McKevitt-Patrick and Engstrom Funeral and Cremation Services of Ironwood and Hurley