Obituary of Celia Anne Thomas

CELIA ANNE SPERRY CELIA ANNE SPERRY WAS BORN IN SANTA ROSA CALIFORNIA ON WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 24TH 1969 TO HER PARENTS JANICE AND GORDON (LEE) SPERRY, AND WAS BROUGHT HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL IN A CHRISTMAS STOCKING. CELIA WAS THE YOUNGEST OF 6 SIBLINGS. MICHAEL, JULIE, KIM, DONYA AND MARK. WHEN CELIA WAS BORN IT WAS HER OLDEST BROTHER MICHAEL WHO SUGGESTED SHE BE NAMED CELIA AFTER THE POPULAR SIMON AND GARFUNKLE SONG CECILIA. THE NAME CELIA DERIVES FROM THE LATIN CAELIA WHICH IS A FEMININE FORM OF THE ROMAN CLAN NAME CAELIUS, AND MEANS HEAVENLY, OR FROM THE HEAVENS. WHAT A FITTING NAME. CELIA WAS TRUELY HEAVENLY AND FROM THE HEAVENS. CELIA WAS BORN THE DAY AFTER A FULL MOON UNDER A WANING GIBBOUS MOON IN THE CONSTILATION OF CANCER. PEOPLE BORN ON THIS PHASE OF THE MOON TEND TO BE VERY CARING AND GENEROUS TO OTHERS. THEY ARE OFTEN VERY CALM PERSONALITIES WHILE STILL BEING VERY STRONG WILLED AND DRIVEN. CELIA WAS NICKNAMED SISSY, OR SIS BY HER PARENTS AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS, AND BEING THAT SHE WAS BORN A CHRISTMAS EVE BABY CELIA GAVE HERSELF THE NICKNAME NOEL. TO ME SHE WAS BABY DOLL, OR BABE-OS. CELIA GREW UP IN HEALDSBURG, CALIFORNIA WITH HER FAMILY ON WESTSIDE ROAD, THEN ON MACDOUNAGH HEIGHTS IN A HOUSE THAT HER FATHER BUILT. SHE WOULD TELL ME STORIES OF A CHILDHOOD SPENT SWIMMING IN THE POOL, OR LOUNGING ON THE DECK READING BOOKS. IN GRADE SCHOOL CELIA ATTENDED WESTSIDE ELEMENTRY. LAST YEAR WE DROVE AROUND HEALDSBURG AND WE VISITED HER OLD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. SHE SHOWED ME WHERE HER HOUSE USED TO BE ON WESTSIDE ROAD, AND WE DROVE UP TO THE DRIVEWAY OF THE HOUSE ON MACDOUNAUGH HEIGHTS. CELIA WANTED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND SEE IF THE OWNERS WERE HOME SO SHE COULD ASK THEM IF SHE COULD GO INSIDE AND SEE THE HOUSE THAT HER FATHER HAD BUILT AND THAT SHE WOULD ALWAYS SAY HAD BUILT HER. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO ONE HOME AT THE TIME. CELIA WAS SO PROUD OF THAT HOUSE THAT HER FATHER HAD BUILT. SHE WOULD SAY MANY TIMES THAT IF WE EVER WON THE LOTERY WE WOULD GO MAKE THE OWNERS OF THAT HOUSE AN OFFER SO BIG THEY WOULD HAVE TO SELL IT TO US. THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY AND CELIA WAS ABLE TO RECONNECT WITH HER PAST, AND SHARE WITH ME A FEW OF THE SPECIAL MEMORIES FROM HER CHILDHOOD. AND WHAT A BEAUTIFUL CHILD CELIA WAS. I HAVE SEEN THE PICTURES OF HER WITH HER STRAWBERRY BLOND HAIR, AND NERVOUS LITTLE SMILE. SHE WAS SUGER ANNIE, AND I AM SURE SHE WAS JUST THE SWEETEST LITTLE THING… EXCEPT FOR WHEN SHE WASN’T. HER FIESTY LITTLE SPIRIT EARNED HER THE NICKNAME FROM HER FATHER VINEGAR ANNIE. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT SHE MUST HAVE DONE TO WARRANT THAT TERM OF AFFECTION. CELIA DESCRIBED HERSELF AS A NERVOUS CHILD, WHO WAS ALWAYS ANXIOUS, AND ALWAYS INSECURE. BUT SHE SPOKE OF HER CHILDHOOD AS ONE OF PRIVILAGE, AND LOVE. HER FATHER WORKED INCREDIBLY HARD TO PROVIDE FOR HIS LARGE FAMILY. HER MOTHER WAS A TRUE HOMEMAKER WHO FOCUSED ON HEALTHY LIVING AND A LIFE OF COMFORT. AND CELIA WAS ALWAYS IN AWE OF HER BIG BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WHOM SHE ABSOLUTELY ADORED. AFTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CELIA ATTENDED HEALDSBURG JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL. CELIA WOULD TELL ME STORIES OF HOW SHE WOULD GET INTO MISCHIEF WITH HER OLDER BROTHER MARKO. CELIA ADORED MARKO, AND HE WAS HER PROTECTOR. OFTEN TIMES AFTER SCHOOL THEY WOULD GET OFF THE BUS AT AN EARLY STOP SO THEY COULD WALK HOME TOGETHER THROUGH THE VINYARDS UP THE HILL TO THEIR HOME. AND SOMETIMES THEY WOULD MISS THE BUS IN THE MORNING ON PURPOSE BECAUSE THEY KNEW THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO STAY HOME FOR THE DAY. ALTHOUGH MARK WAS A FEW YEARS OLDER THAN CELIA HE WOULD ALWAYS LOOK OUT FOR HER, AND I AM SURE MARK HAD HIS HANDS FULL WITH ALL THE BOYS WANTING TO BE FRIENDS WITH CELIA WHEN SHE WAS GROWING UP. AN ABSOLUTE BEAUTY, CELIA COULD HAVE HAD HER PICK, I AM SURE. ON JULY 2ND 1988 CELIA MARRIED DAVID THOMPSON ON THE BACK DECK OF THE HOME THAT HER FATHER HAD BUILT ON MACDOUNOUGH HEIGHTS. LESS THAN A YEAR LATER ON APRIL 21ST 1989 CELIA AND DAVID WELCOMED INTO THE WORLD THE FIRST OF CELIA’S THREE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN. BRITTANY LEIGH. BRITT-A-ROONEY WAS CELIA’S WILD CHILD, AND SHE WOULD TAKE BRITTANY WITH HER EVERYWHERE. BRITTANY INHEARITED CELIA’S STRAWBERRY BLOND HAIR, AND REBELLIOUS FIESTY SPIRIT. CELIA, DAVID AND BRITTANY LIVED IN SANTA ROSA, AND THEN LATER MOVED TO DALLAS OREGON WHERE HER PARENTS HAD RELOCATED. ON NOVEMBER 11TH 1996 CELIA AND DAVID WELCOMED INTO THE WORLD THE SECOND OF CELIA’S BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN, LANCE MICHAEL. LANCEE-BEAR’S ENTRY INTO THIS WORLD WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. CELIA STRUGGLED IN LABOR FOR TWO DAYS, AND WHEN LANCE FINALLY CAME OUT HE WAS BLUE. THIS EXPERIENCE CREATED A SPECIAL BOND BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM, AND EVERY YEAR ON LANCES BIRTHDAY THEY WOULD TALK ABOUT HOW THEY HAD BOTH ALMOST DIED TOGETHER IN CHILDBIRTH. EVENTUALLY CELIA, DAVID, BRITTANY AND LANCE MOVED BACK TO CALIFORNIA. FOR A SHORT WHILE CELIA ATTENDED SANTA ROSA JUNIOR COLLEGE. CELIA WANTED TO BE A NURSE, BECAUSE SHE HAD SUCH A COMPASSION FOR HELPING PEOPLE. IT WAS HER CARING SPIRIT THAT WOULD ALWAYS COME OUT WHEN CELIA WAS AROUND PEOPLE THAT WERE IN NEED OF HELP. THIS WAS EVIDENT ONE DAY WHEN WE WERE DRIVING HOME, AND CAME UPON A CAR ACCIDENT. CELIA DIDN’T HESITATE TO JUMP OUT OF OUR VEHICLE TO SEE IF ANY OF THE INJURED NEEDED ASSISTANCE. WHILE CELIA ATTENDED SANTA ROSA JUNIOR COLLEGE SHE STUDIED INCREDIBLY HARD AND WAS 2ND IN HER CLASS. SHE WAS SO DETERMINED TO DO WELL, THAT SHE WOULD WEAR A TEE SHIRT TO CLASS THAT SAID “I LOVE NERDS” SO SHE COULD GET IN WITH THE SMARTEST STUDENTS. I AM SURE THE NERDS DIDN’T MIND HAVING CELIA IN THEIR STUDY GROUP. IN THE SUMMER OF 2005 I WAS LIVING IN COBB, AND ONE DAY I WALKED INTO THE LOCAL MARKET. WORKING AT THE CHECKSTAND WAS THIS BEAUTIFUL WOMAN. A TOTALLY UNIQUE KIND OF BEAUTY THAT I HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE. SHE HAD SANDY BLOND HAIR WITH GOLDEN HIGHLIGHTS AND THESE PEIRCING GREEN EYES. IT WAS THE EYES. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE EYES FOR ME. THERE WAS A DEPTH TO HER EYES THAT I HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE. THEY WERE ENTRANCING, ALMOST SNAKE LIKE AND YET THEY WERE SO KIND AND INVITING. I WAS DRAWN IN, AND I REMAINED DRAWN IN TO HER BEAUTIFUL GREEN EYES EVERY DAY UNTIL THEY WERE OPEN NO MORE. I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT DAY. I MADE SURE TO GO THROUGH HER LINE, AND I AM SURE I WAS TOTALLY AWKWARD, AND SAID SOMETHING LAME WHEN I TRIED TO TALK TO HER, BUT I WALKED OUT OF THERE FEELING SOMETHING SPECIAL. WHAT IT WAS I HAD NO CLUE, NOR DID I HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT WOULD BECOME OF OUR LIVES TOGETHER, BUT ON THAT DAY I FELT SOMETHING. IN THE SPRING OF 2006 MY FATHER PASSED AWAY. THE ONLY PERSON TO COME OVER TO BE WITH ME WAS CELIA. SHE STAYED WITH ME ALL DAY, AND WHEN I CRIED, SHE CRIED WITH ME. WHEN I NEEDEED A HUG SHE HELD ME, AND I KNEW AT THAT MOMENT THIS WAS THE WOMAN THAT I WANTED TO SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE WITH. I WAS ALREADY IN LOVE WITH CELIA, AND WE HAD SPENT A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER SINCE WE HAD MET, BUT IT WAS AT THAT MOMENT, THAT I REALIZED THAT I HAD FOUND THAT ONE PERSON WHO WOULD ALWAYS BE THERE FOR ME. THAT ONE PERSON WHO TRUELLY LOVED ME. I HAD FOUND MY BEST FRIEND, AND MY WORLD WOULD NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN. CELIA AND I GOT MARRIED IN THE GAZEEBO AT LIBRARY PARK IN LAKEPORT ON MAY 19TH 2007. OUR WEDDING WAS A 2 DAY EVENT SHARED WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY. HER ENTIRE FAMILY FROM OREGON DROVE DOWN IN HER FATHERS RV, AND ALONG WITH MY FAMILY AND OUR FRIENDS WE ALL STAYED AT ONE OF THE HOTELS IN TOWN. OUR WEDDING WAS SIMPLE BUT FUN. CELIA WAS SO BEAUTIFUL. I WAS SO NERVOUS. IT WAS A BIT WINDY THAT DAY AND I COULDN’T GET THE UNITY CANDLE TO LIGHT. WHEN I LOOKED OVER AT CELIA SHE GAVE ME ONE OF HER FAMOUS “YOU BETTER GET THIS SHIT RIGHT, PAUL” LOOKS. SO, I MADE SURE I GOT THE CANDLE LIT. WE SAID I DO, WE KISSED, AND WE WERE MARRIED. I GOT A LOT OF THOSE “YOU HAD BETTER GET THIS SHIT RIGHT, PAUL” LOOKS FROM CELIA IN THE 12 AND HALF YEARS THAT WE WERE MARIED. ONE OF CELIA’S CHERISHED MEMORIES FROM THE NIGHT OF OUR WEDDING WAS WHEN HER BIG BROTHER MARKO RODE HIS BICYCLE, WITH HER ON THE HANDLE BARS, FROM THE HOTEL WHERE EVERYONE WAS STAYING DOWN MAIN STREET TO OUR HOUSE. IT WAS TOTALLY RECKLESS, AND ILL ADVISED, BUT SHE TOLD ME MANY TIMES THAT SHE WAS HAPPY AND FELT FREE, AND AS ALWAYS SHE FELT SAFE ON THOSE HANDLE BARS WITH HER BIG BROTHER MARKO. WE SPENT OUR HONEYMOON AT DISNEYLAND, AND WE WERE SO POOR. WE COULDN’T RENT A CAR, OR GO OUT TO EAT. WE HAD TO WALK TO THE STORE, AND TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE PARK. WE COULDN’T AFFORD A FANCY HOTEL, OR BUY EXPENSIVE SOUVENEERS, AND YOU KNOW WHAT? NONE OF THAT MATTERED TO US, BECAUSE WE WERE MARIED AND WE WERE IN LOVE. ONE NIGHT BEFORE CELIA AND I WERE MARRIED SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD A DREAM THAT SOMEDAY SHE WOULD HAVE ONE MORE CHILD, A GREEN-EYED BOY. ON JUNE 3RD 2008 CELIA AND I WELCOMED INTO THE WORLD THE THIRD OF HER BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN, MATTHEW STEPHEN. MADDIGANS WAS BORN BY CECARIAN AND WHEN THE NURSES PRESENTED THE BABY FOR US TO SEE I ASKED THEM, “ARE YOU GOING TO WIPE THE BLOOD OFF HIS HEAD?” THEY LOOKED AT ME FUNNY AND SAID THAT IS THE COLOR OF HIS HAIR. MATTHEW WAS BORN WITH THE BRIGHTEST RED HAIR I HAD EVER SEEN. CELIA HAD REDDISH BLOND HAIR WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD, AS DID BRITTANY AND LANCE, AND THE RED HAIR IS A DIRECT LINK TO HER FATHER, WHO ALSO HAD RED HAIR, AND WHO’S NICKNAME WAS RED. OVER THE YEARS THE RED HAIR HAS BEGUN TO FADE TO MORE OF A BLOND, BUT YOU CAN STILL SEE TRACES OF IT IN MATTHEWS HAIR, AND IT IS REALLY PRONOUNCED IN LANCES BEARD. MATTHEW HAS THOSE BEAUTIFUL GREEN EYES JUST LIKE HIS MOTHERS, AND SHE HAD SEEN HIM IN HER DREAMS. OF ALL OF CELIA’S CHILDREN I THINK MATTY LOOKS THE MOST LIKE HIS MOTHER. I SEE HER IN HIS EYES. MATTY AND CELIA NEVER SPENT MORE THAN A DAY APART. SHE WAS WITH HIM ALWAYS. SHE WAS HIS HOME SCHOOL TEACHER FOR THE LAST 2 AND A HALF YEARS, SOMETHING I AM VERY PROUD OF HER FOR ACCOMPLISHING. SHE WENT INTO BEING HIS HOME SCHOOL TEACHER WITH A REAL FOCUS, AND DETERMINATION, AND WAS ABLE TO GIVE MATTHEW WHAT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM COULD NOT, THE ATTENTION HE NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO THRIVE. MATTHEW’S SUCCESS WITH BEING HOME SCHOOLED WAS 100 PERCENT BECAUSE OF CELIA. SHE TAUGHT HERSELF HOW TO TEACH HIM, AND TOGETHER THEY ACHIEVED PERFECT ATTENDANCE, AND LAST YEAR MATTHEW HAD STRAIGHT A’S. CELIA WOULD SPEND HOURS AT NIGHT PREPARING MATTHEW’S LESSIONS FOR THE NEXT DAY, AND THEY NEVER MISSED AN ASSIGNMENT. I AM SO PROUD OF WHAT CELIA DID FOR MATTHEW. IT WAS TIRING, AND FRUSTRATING FOR HER AT TIMES, BUT SHE DID WHAT SHE FELT WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF HER CHILD. ON FEBRUARY 5TH 2015 BRITTANY GAVE BIRTH TO KAL WILLIAM BUCKLEY. KAL-BOOKEY WAS CELIA’S ONLY GRAND CHILD. CELIA WAS WITH BRITTANY AT THE HOSPITAL WHEN HE WAS BORN. WHEN BRITTANY WAS PREGNANT CELIA WOULD TELL ME THAT SHE WAS TOO YOUNG TO BE A GRANDMOTHER, BUT ONCE KAL WAS BORN SHE FELL SO IN LOVE WITH HIM THAT SHE BEEMED WITH PRIDE EVERYTIME SHE WOULD TALK ABOUT BEING HIS NANNA. WHEN I MARRIED CELIA I NOT ONLY GAINED A WIFE, BUT I ALSO GAINED A FAMILY. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH BRITTANY AND LANCE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND MEANINGFUL PARTS OF MY LIFE. FROM THE MOMENT I MET THEM BOTH I HAVE LOVED THEM. WHEN I TALK ABOUT OUR CHILDREN I ALWAYS SAY CELIA AND I HAVE THREE. BRITTANY, LANCE, AND MATTHEW. AND EACH ONE OF THEM IS A SHINING REFLECTION OF WHO CELIA WAS. THEY ARE ALL UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT, AND YET THEY SHARE CELIA’S LOVE AND INFLUENCE IN HOW THEY LIVE THEIR LIVES AND TREAT OTHERS. BRITTANY IS THE SMART, INDEPENDENT, BEAUTIFUL BEE. LANCE THE GENTLE, HANDSOME, CONSIDERATE BEAR, AND MATTHEW THE SENSITIVE, CREATIVE, SILLY CHILD. ALL THREE POSESS THE BEST QUALITIES OF CELIA, AND ALL THREE ARE SPECIAL. I LOVE THEM ALL SO MUCH, AND SO DID CELIA. HER CHILDREN ARE HER LEGACY, AND HER LEGACY IS ONE OF BEAUTY AND FAMILY. OF LOVING AND CARING. OF LIVING AND SHARING. AND OF BEING A MOTHER. CELIA LOVED HER CHILDREN, AND HER GRANDSON KAL, MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD, AND THERE IS NO MORE DEFINATIVE OF A STATEMENT THAT WOULD DESCRIBE WHO CELIA WAS THAN THAT. BEFORE I MET CELIA I WAS A FRACTION OF THE MAN I AM TODAY. I WAS ON A PATH THAT WAS GOING NOWHERE, AND I HAD NO ONE TO SHOW ME THAT LIFE WAS MEANT TO BE ENJOYED. EVERYTHING CHANGED WHEN CELIA CAME INTO MY LIFE. SUDDENLY I WAS AWARE THAT LIFE WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE MEANING. IT WAS OK TO BE HAPPY. I COULD MAKE MY OWN DESTINY, AND I HAD SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN. I BELIEVED IN CELIA, AND I BELIEVED IN US, BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE SOMEONE BELIEVED IN ME. THAT IS ALL IT TOOK. ONCE I KNEW HOW MUCH CELIA LOVED ME, AND BELIEVED IN ME, I BEGAN TO BECOME THE MAN I AM TODAY. I OWE EVERYTHING TO THAT BEAUTIFUL LOVING WOMAN. CELIA GUIDED US TO NEW HEIGHTS I NEVER THOUGHT WE COULD ACHIEVE. WE HAVE AN AMAZING FAMILY, WE OWN OUR OWN HOME, AND I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO LIVE A LIFE OF JOY AND FULLFILLMENT. CELIA IS THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME AND SHE CAME INTO MY LIFE AT EXACTLY THE RIGHT TIME. TOGETHER WE BUILT A FAMILY AND A HOME AND MOST IMPORTANTLY WE BUILT A BOND WITH EACH OTHER THAT WILL LAST FOR ETERNITY. HER SOUL IS MINE AND MINE IS HERS. HER LIFE HAS SO MUCH MEANING THROUGH HER CHILDREN AND ALSO THROUGH ME. CELIA PASSED AWAY ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 24TH 2019. SHE TOOK HER LAST BREATH AT 11:10PM. I WAS THERE WITH HER. I HAD MY HAND ON HER HEART AND I WISPERED TO HER THAT IT WAS OK TO LEAVE. SHE COULD GO BE WITH HER DAD AND HER BROTHER MARKO, AND I PROMISED I WOULD TAKE CARE OF OUR CHILDREN AND OUR FAMILY. I PUSHED GENTLY ON HER CHEST AS SHE EXHALED HER LAST BREATH TO HELP HER PASS OVER. I KNOW SHE DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE US, SO I FELT I NEEDED TO ENCOURAGE HER TO GO. IT WAS THE HARDEST THING I’VE EVER HAD TO DO. I AM IN STILL IN SHOCK AND IN MOURNING, AS WE ALL ARE, HOWEVER I REJOICE IN HAVING SPENT THE TIME I DID IN THE GRACE OF SUCH A BEAUTIFUL, AND LOVING WOMAN. I AM BLESSED TO HAVE SHARED MY LIFE WITH A PARTNER WHO LOVED ME SO UNCONDITIONALLY. I CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF A WIFE, MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, SISTER, COUSIN, AND FRIEND WHO WAS UNLIKE ANY OTHER THAT WE WILL EVER HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO KNOW. I WILL CONTINUE TO SHARE HER LOVE WITH ALL OF YOU FOR HER LOVE WAS SO GREAT THAT MY HEART IS SO FULL. I WILL CHERISH THE MOMENTS WHEN WE WERE JUST THE TWO OF US. WHEN I COULD LOOK DEEP INTO HER BEAUTIFUL GREEN EYES AND GET LOST AND FORGET ALL SENSE OF TIME. I WILL HOLD ONTO THE MEMORIES OF THE MUNDANE FOR THOSE ARE THE MEMORIES THAT MATTER TO ME THE MOST. SITTING ON THE COUCH TOGETHER, WATCHING TV, DRIVING TO THE STORE, COOKING DINNER, WORKING IN THE YARD, AND TALKING, JUST TALKING. I WILL NEVER HEAR HER VOICE AGAIN IN MY EARS, BUT I WILL HEAR HER SPEAK TO ME IN MY THOUGHTS. I WILL NEVER AGAIN GET TO SEE HER SMILING UP AT ME, BUT I WILL SEE HER IN MY DREAMS. I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO HOLD HER IN MY ARMS AGAIN, BUT I WILL HOLD HER IN MY HEART. AND I WILL NEVER GET TO LOOK INTO HER BEAUTIFUL GREEN EYES AGAIN, OR SEE HER PRETTY FACE, BUT I WILL FOREVER SEE HER IN THE FACES OF HER CHILDREN. I AM DEVISTATED THAT SHE IS GONE, HOWEVER, I FIND COMFORT IN KNOWING THAT SHE HAS GONE HOME TO HEAVEN TO BE WITH HER DAD AND HER BIG BROTHER MARKO. I LOVE YOU, CELIA, AND I WILL FOREVER BE YOUR SILLY MAN. Paul Thomas (Husband)