Celia Bernadette (Sanchez) Acosta

Our wonderful Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother and very loving Mother-In-Law Celia (Sanchez) Acosta entered this world on February 2nd, 1932, in Wheatland, WY. She was the sixth of thirteen children born to John Anselmo Sanchez and Antonia (Romero) Sanchez.

Sometime after she was born, the family relocated to Denver, CO, where Celia spent the bulk of her childhood. She came from a very deeply religious Catholic family, where her parents instilled very strong values in her. Throughout her long life, her faith never left her, and she continued those traditions and teachings with her own children. She taught them faith, love of family, service to community, and shared with them her own strong moral compass.

As a young girl, Celia and her sisters spent many hours babysitting younger siblings and the children of their friends and neighbors. Her mother Antonia always stressed the importance of helping people who needed anything. Celia was always ready to lend a hand, give advice, or give of herself to anyone who asked.

As a teenager, Celia decided to come to Oakland, California, where she lived with her sister and brother-in-law, Lena and Ernie Martinez. She started attending Fremont High School in Oakland, where she spotted the ultimate love of her life, Elmer Acosta. She liked to tell the story of when she first saw him, and said, “I’m going to marry that man.” They did marry on February 23rd, 1950, just days after Celia turned 18. The ceremony was held at St. Elizabeth Church in Oakland, where Elmer’s sister and brother-in-law, Stella and G.R. Davis served as witnesses. Celia and Elmer shared 50 years together before Elmer’s passing in May 2000.

The family started growing with their daughter Lynnette Marie joining them in May 1951, followed by Baby Armand (deceased) in November 1952, Armand Anthony in 1954, John Joseph in 1955, Jeffrey Lyn in 1957, David Allen in 1958 and finally Marsha Ann in 1959, completing their busy, joyful, noisy, crazy family life filled with Oakland A’s baseball games, Oakland Raiders football games, birthdays, holidays, baptisms, weddings, and observance of the Sacraments, which were so important to Celia and Elmer.

Celia had several jobs during her adult life. She and Elmer owned and operated a neighborhood bar in Oakland, known as Cotton Mill Johnnie’s, until they sold it in 1969. Celia also worked at a Bookbinding company called Color Art Press, where she rose to the rank of Journeywoman Bookbinder, in a time where women didn’t often achieve that level of professionalism. Her favorite job, other than her family, was working for the Oakland A’s, taking ticket orders and reservations. She retired from there, and from then until her passing, she was so proud to have a monthly retirement check from Major League Baseball.

Celia and Elmer were so excited to add 12 grandchildren and eventually, 10 great-grandchildren to their legacy. Every new addition was “Oh, that Blessed Baby.” She had such a joyful and loving demeanor whenever she spent time with the new generations. We are so blessed to have so many pictures of Celia holding each new child in the family, and all of them loved their Grandma and Nana.

She spent her final years living in Carson City, NV, where she lived with daughter Lynnette and son-in-law Michael Betts. Celia was called home on Wednesday, February 12th, 2025, after a brief illness. She is survived by her children; Lynnette (Acosta) Betts, (Michael), Armand Acosta (Barbara), John Acosta (Rhonda), Jeffrey Acosta, David Acosta (Muna) and Marsha Acosta; her Grandchildren; Renee (Betts) Evrett, (Chad), Michelle Betts, Marie (Acosta) Long, (Darius), Angela (Acosta) Rivera, (Javier), Jennifer (Acosta) Morrill, (Timothy), Kimberly Acosta, John Acosta, Allison Acosta, Jeffrey Acosta, Philip Acosta, Andrew Acosta, James Acosta; Great-Grandchildren; Anthony Acosta-Long, Ian Long, Darius Long Jr (Rosanna) , Victoria Rivera, Matthew Rivera, Benjamin Rivera, Joseph Rivera, Joy Morrill, Colin Morrill and Clint Evrett; sisters Erma Trujillo and Sandra Manzo; brothers Robert Sanchez (Bella), Tim Sanchez (Christine), Steve Sanchez (Dona) and many nieces and nephews and their descendants.

Celia is pre-deceased by her parents, her brothers John Sanchez and Rudy Sanchez, sisters Mary Patterson, Priscilla Zambrano, Lena Martinez, Susie Atencio, Arlene Sanchez, Baby Armand Acosta and her husband Elmer Acosta.

Celebration of Life Mass will be held at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church on Friday April 25th, 2025. Rosary will be at 10:00 AM followed by the Mass. After internment at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, there will be a reception at O’Brien Hall, at St. Philip Neri Church.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Alameda Food Bank at alamedafoodbank.org. Their phone number is 510-523-5850.