Roxann Dee Cellino

      To Roxann Dee Cellino, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, she was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around her, she seemed to be eternally happy, and she willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life she touched. For Roxann, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, she could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Roxann really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

      Roxann was born on November 4, 1946 at Los Angeles Community Hospital in Los Angeles, California. Her parents were Rocco and Naomi Cellino. Roxann was raised in California. Even as a child, Roxann had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around her. She was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. She couldn't help but capture everyone's attention. She was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, she succeeded in entertaining her entire family.

      Always a good playmate, Roxann was easygoing and fun loving. She managed to lighten the mood wherever she was, even during family squabbles. She seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Roxann managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Roxann was raised with two sisters, Randy and Nanette.

      All of Roxann's playful good humor carried over into her childhood. She was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed her to be constantly on the go. As a result, Roxann experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited her very well. She adored her Grandma Smith and spent much of her childhood with her.

      Ask anyone who knew her from school and they would tell you that Roxann was a class “cut-up.” She didn't do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Roxann simply enjoyed others' laughter and the sounds of her friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Roxann, grades may not have been the most important thing to her, but she really did enjoy her school experience. Since experience was Roxann's best teacher. She enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Roxann graduated from Alhambra High School in 1964.

      Perhaps the reason Roxann related so well to children was the fact that she never really completely grew up herself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped her in raising her own children. Roxann was blessed with three children, son, David; and daughters, Rebecca and Heather. She was also blessed with fourteen grandchildren, Drew, Aaron, Amanda, Carissa, Zachary, Kevin, Taylor, Destiny, Kaitlin, Kaya, Adam, Noah, Matthew, and Kingston. Roxann had the ability to focus her attention on the present moment. If she was spending time with the kids, that's where all of her attention was directed. Roxann's compassionate side prevented her from being a strict disciplinarian, and she could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. She could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. Every Christmas, Roxann would orchestrate a Christmas program with all of the grandchildren as the stars.

      At work, as in life, Roxann was a real “people person. ” she had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and her enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Roxann liked to see herself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Roxann was an adaptable realist, using her common sense and trusting her experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Roxann's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around her to see Roxann as an excellent problem solver. Her job was as a medical administrator but her primary occupation was being grandma.

      Roxann enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Roxann liked creating and making things. Her favorite pursuits were writing poetry. Some of her poems were published. She also was quite an artist and drew many sketched many portraits of her grandchildren. Roxann was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

      Roxann relished the opportunities where she could make an impact, and she would often push herself to play above her abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Roxann never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. Roxann was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Roxann loved to do anything outdoors. She loved to watch her grandchildren dance.

      Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Roxann recognized that her faith was important to her throughout her life. She was a Christian woman. She had a very spiritual connection to God.

      Living life in the fast lane suited Roxann just fine. It is no surprise that she loved to travel and to visit new and different places. She was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included a trip to San Diego, were she and the family visited Sea World.

      Roxann was a lover of animals and cherished her pets, enjoying them almost as much as she enjoyed being around other people. One of Roxann's favorites was Stanley, her dog which she viewed as one of her children. Stanley was named after her uncle that passed. They were best friends for 5 years. Her family was rounded out by her cat, Blessing and dog, Bon Bon.

      Roxann passed away on March 14, 2009 at West Anaheim Medical Center. Roxann fought a battle with Diabetes. She is survived by her three children, fourteen grandchildren, and two sisters. Services were held at Whites Funeral Home.

      Roxann brought joy to all of those around her. She never had a mean bone in her body. She loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. She loved to share her energy, wit, and her zest for all of her activities with her friends and family. Roxann Dee Cellino lived life to its fullest and made everyone around her happier just for knowing her. She will be remembered with a smile.