Celia "Sally" Alanis

Celia C. Alanis, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grand-mother, and a life-long Ontario resident entered eternal life on January 29, 2021. Celia was known by “Sally” to many of her family and friends – although the name she loved best was “Grandma Sally”. She graduated from Chaffey High School in Ontario and married Paul Alanis on April 11, 1948 and then they raised four children. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul (Husky) Alanis. Sally was a devout catholic and parishioner at St. George’s Church in Ontario. She was an Ontario Montclair School District employee who was a bilingual instructional aid as well as assisted in the kitchen of Casa Ramon Restaurant located in Claremont and Taco Lita in Ontario and worked at Sunkist citrus packing plant in Ontario.

The family gathering to make home-made tamales were one of the many Christmas holiday traditions that Sally looked forward to each year – not to mention confetti eggs, the Easter egg hunt, and a family dinner. She also enjoyed cooking traditional Mexican food and crocheting for her family and friends. During her retirement years, she liked watching cooking and travel shows and mass each Sunday. In addition, Sally enjoyed visits to Merced, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, and many other local areas as well as Las Vegas, New Orleans, Chicago and New York, and memorable family vacations to Mexico, Italy, and Canada. The 2005 cruise to Ensenada was special with the entire family on the trip for Dad’s birthday celebration. Mom’s October 21, 2008 audience with Pope Benedetto XVI was a very cherished memory.

Sally is survived by her children: Armida (Jerry) Ayala, Cynthia (Sam) Gutierrez of Ontario, Michael (Susan) Alanis of Chino, and Patricia Alanis of Irvine. Grandchildren: Melissa Gutierrez Stoops, Nicholas Gutierrez, Alisha Ayala Saavedra, Adrienne Gutierrez Smith, Eric Alanis, and Selena Alanis Kelaher. Great-grandchildren: Kylie Gutierrez, Katie Stoops, Annie Stoops, Julie Stoops, Wyatt Smith, Olivia Smith, and Mia Kelaher. She was preceded in death by her brother, Ralph Cerda and sister, Mary Lopez. Her surviving sisters are Angie Briones, Kate Nunez, and Connie Valenzuela. Aunt Sally will be deeply missed by numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be private to ensure the safety of all our family and friends.